700kg of explosives recovered in North Waziristan clearance operation
Security forces recovered 700 kg of locally made explosives and a missile in a search and clearance operation in North Waziristan, security sources said. The operation will continue until any possible militant presence is cleared.
- 700 kg of locally made explosives recovered in Mosaki, security sources say
- An Al-Farooq missile and 200 kg of urea found in Hassu Khel
- 62 more houses and several compounds searched
- Operation to continue until possible militant presence is cleared
Security forces recovered 700 kg of locally made explosives, a missile and other equipment during a search and clearance operation in North Waziristan on Tuesday, according to security sources cited by The Express Tribune and Daily Jang.
The sources said 62 more houses and several compounds were searched. Searches were completed at 17 compounds between Api village and Haider Khel, 28 compounds in Maski and 17 compounds in other areas.
In Hassu Khel, 14 targeted locations were cleared. Security forces also recovered an Al-Farooq missile, 200 kg of urea and other equipment there. The 700 kg of locally made explosives were found in Mosaki.
According to the sources, the operation will continue until any possible terrorist presence and the locations used by terrorists are cleared.
The Express Tribune reported that a day earlier security forces recovered IEDs, explosives, weapons and ammunition from two hideouts inside mosques in Muzak village near Mir Ali. The military's media wing, ISPR, said the hideouts belonged to Fitna al-Khawarij, a term it uses for the banned TTP, and were used to store explosives and run torture cells.
The Express Tribune also cited wider figures. ACLED data shows attacks in Pakistan rose to 2,425 in 2025 from 658 in 2022. Two security reports presented to the federal cabinet in October showed a 195 per cent rise in terrorist incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa between March 2024 and September 2026, and found that 73 per cent of attacks in the province in 2026 targeted police and security personnel.
The paper added that a February 2026 UN Security Council monitoring report said TTP attacks from Afghanistan had increased, that Al Qaeda continued to provide the group with training and support, and that the TTP had acquired advanced weapons including night-vision equipment and drone systems.
Background
khabr.pk reported on 9 and 10 November that security forces cleared two militant hideouts inside mosques in Muzak village near Mir Ali, North Waziristan, the military's media wing said, recovering explosives, weapons and ammunition. On 7 November khabr.pk also reported that a militant commander was killed in Khyber District and four more militants in Bannu, according to security sources.
Why it matters for Pakistan
North Waziristan is part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where residents live with the effects of militant violence and security operations. The searches of dozens of houses and compounds directly involve local communities. Security reports cited by The Express Tribune show a 195 per cent rise in terrorist incidents in the province between March 2024 and September 2026, with 73 per cent of attacks in 2026 targeting police and security personnel.
