In the rugged hills and dusty valleys of northwest Pakistan, the crack of gunfire echoed louder this week. The Pakistan Army announced a major crackdown, killing 38 Taliban militants in a series of raids across four key districts: Dera Ismail Khan, North Waziristan, Bannu, and Bajaur. These operations, carried out between November 15 and 17, targeted hideouts of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a group that has fueled fear and bloodshed for years.
For families in these border areas—many caught between soldiers and insurgents—it’s a grim reminder of a war that never truly ends. The army calls the dead “Khawarij,” a harsh term for extremists they say are backed by enemies across the Afghan border. But as the death toll rises, so do questions: Is this just a temporary win, or can Pakistan finally choke out the flames of insurgency? With over 1,000 attacks this year alone, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
And amid the chaos, former Prime Minister Imran Khan‘s shadow looms large. Jailed since 2023 on graft charges he calls a witch hunt, Khan has long accused the military of fueling the very militancy it’s now fighting. His Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party sees these raids as a distraction from the real fight: Political freedom in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), PTI’s stronghold. Khan, from his cell in Adiala Jail, hasn’t commented directly on these ops, but his past words on the Taliban and army echo loud—words that once celebrated Afghanistan’s “freedom” and now blast the establishment for “creating monsters.” For Indians eyeing the neighborhood, this mix of militancy and politics spells trouble: Instability in KP could ripple to trade, borders, and worse.
In this report, we piece together the raids step by step, meet the people living through the chaos, and dig into why the TTP is roaring back now. We’ll also unpack Khan’s angle—how his ouster ties into the army’s grip and the insurgency’s roots. Drawing from official briefings, eyewitness accounts, and expert views, we’ll cut through the noise. Let’s break it down plain and simple.
The Raids: Quick Strikes That Left 38 Dead
The operations kicked off on a tip from intelligence teams—Pakistan’s eyes and ears on the ground. First up: November 15 in Kulachi, a tense pocket of Dera Ismail Khan district. Soldiers stormed a militant hideout, trading bullets in a fierce firefight. Ten TTP fighters went down, including a top dog named Alam Mehsud, who the army says ran local terror cells. No soldiers hurt, but locals heard the blasts from miles away.
Day two brought more action in Datta Khel, deep in North Waziristan’s mountains—a Taliban stronghold since the 2000s. Five militants bit the dust here, one a commander with blood on his hands from past bombings. The army used drones for spotting, then boots on the ground to finish the job. These areas are no picnic: Narrow paths, hidden caves, and fighters who know every rock.
Then came the big push over November 16-17: Twin raids in Bajaur and Bannu. In Bajaur, near the Afghan line, 11 TTP men were killed, led by a ringleader called Sajjad (aka Abuzar). Bannu saw 12 more fall in a separate clash. That’s 23 in one go—arms caches seized, plans for attacks smashed. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army’s voice box, called it a “decisive blow” against Fitna Al-Khawarij, their name for TTP and allies.
Total haul: 38 bodies, weapons grabbed, hideouts cleared. But it’s not over—sweep teams are still combing the spots for traps or stragglers. One X post from a local journalist summed it: “Another night of booms in the hills. Pray for dawn.”
The Enemy Within: Who Are These Militants?
The TTP isn’t your average gang—they’re the Pakistani arm of the Taliban family, sworn enemies of the state since 2007. Born from the ashes of Afghanistan’s wars, they want a hardline Islamic setup and hit back at anyone who stands in the way: Schools, markets, even mosques. This year, they’ve racked up over 500 deaths, from suicide blasts in Peshawar to ambushes on patrols.
The ones killed here? Army says they’re hardcore, trained across the border in Afghanistan. Pakistan points fingers at Kabul for giving them safe houses—claims the Taliban government denies flat out. “These Khawarij get arms and orders from there,” barked ISPR in a statement. India gets dragged in too, with whispers of RAW funding, but that’s more smoke than fire—no hard proof.
Take Alam Mehsud: A Dera Ismail Khan native turned TTP boss, linked to a 2024 market bombing that killed 15. Or Sajjad in Bajaur—he planned hits on polio workers, scaring off vaccine teams and letting diseases spread. These raids nabbed explosives, maps, even laptops with attack blueprints. But TTP fights on, claiming the dead as “martyrs” in underground videos. “The dogs of the army will pay,” one grainy clip warned.
For the foot soldiers, life is brutal: Recruited from poor villages with promises of paradise, armed with AKs and grudges. Many are locals, squeezed by poverty and drone scars from U.S. days. “They say join or die,” one ex-fighter told a reporter last year, hiding his face.
Imran Khan’s Shadow: From Taliban Cheers to Army Clashes
No story on Pakistan’s militancy is complete without Imran Khan. The jailed cricket star-turned-leader, whose PTI swept KP in 2018 and 2022, has always danced a tricky line with the Taliban and army. Back in 2021, as PM, he hailed the Afghan Taliban’s Kabul takeover as Afghans “breaking the shackles of slavery”—words that thrilled Islamists but irked neighbors like India. Khan’s soft touch on Kabul? PTI insiders say it was to build bridges, but critics call it naive, letting TTP regroup across the border.
Fast-forward: Khan’s 2022 ouster via no-confidence vote, which he blames on the military under Army Chief Asim Munir (a man he once sacked as ISI head over a probe into his wife). Jailed since August 2023 on corruption raps, Khan’s PTI accuses the establishment of “using militancy as a stick” against them. In KP—PTI’s heartland—these raids hit close. Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, a Khan loyalist, slammed the feds in October for “flawed policies” that let TTP rise, citing unpaid funds and weak borders. “The army fights ghosts while we beg for schools,” a PTI worker in Bannu whispered, fearing reprisal.
Khan himself? No fresh tweet on these raids—he’s blocked from X, and jail letters are censored. But in smuggled messages, he’s blasted the military for “creating the Frankenstein” of extremism through past deals like the 2008 Swat truce. PTI rallies in Peshawar last month chanted: “Raids won’t hide your theft of democracy!” Experts like Hassan Askari Rizvi say Khan’s angle stokes Pathan pride—many TTP recruits are from his Pashtun roots—making the army’s ops a two-front war: Guns in hills, protests in streets. Munir’s recent power grab, amending Article 243 for lifetime immunity, only fuels the fire. “Khan spooks the generals because he speaks to the very folks they’re raiding,” Rizvi notes. For PTI, these 38 deaths? A grim scorecard in a bigger battle for KP’s soul.
Caught in the Crossfire: Life on the Edge in KP
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) isn’t just a map dot—it’s home to 35 million, half in these border zones. Dera Ismail Khan’s markets buzz with traders from Afghanistan; North Waziristan’s peaks hide shepherds and schools. But raids mean curfews, booms that shake homes, and kids asking why Daddy’s away with the army.
In Bannu, a mom named Fatima (not her real name) huddled with her three little ones during the November 17 clash. “We heard shooting all night—my boy cried for hours. Is it safe to farm tomorrow?” she asked an aid worker. Displaced folks crowd camps here—over 100,000 fled past ops, per UN numbers. And don’t forget the Afghans: One million refugees in KP, many in Dera Ismail Khan and Bannu. Camps shut this year, leaving families exposed.
Bajaur’s worse: A July blast there killed 18 at a mosque, mostly women and kids. Locals blame TTP; army blames cross-border plots. “We want peace, not this endless fight,” said elder Malik Khan at a village meet. Health suffers too—polio cases up 20% as teams dodge bullets. Economy? Roads close, shops empty, farmers lose crops. One study says insurgency costs KP $2 billion yearly in lost work and fixes.
Yet, some cheer the raids. “Finally, someone hits back,” said a Bannu shopkeeper, nodding at soldiers passing by. But PTI supporters? They whisper of “staged ops” to justify crackdowns on Khan’s men.
The Bigger Picture: Why TTP Is Back with a Bang
Flash back: TTP nearly died after 2014’s army storm, Zarb-e-Azb, which cleared their Miram Shah HQ. Thousands fled to Afghanistan, licking wounds. But since Kabul’s Taliban took over in 2021—right after Khan’s welcome mat— TTP regrouped—stronger, bolder. Attacks jumped 60% this year, per a think tank tally. Why? Safe havens in Nangarhar, easy guns from black markets, and recruits from madrasas hit by floods and joblessness.
Pakistan-Afghan ties? Icy. Islamabad demands Kabul hand over TTP chiefs; Kabul says “handle your own mess.” Border fences—half-built—stop some crossings but spark clashes. India watches warily: TTP once eyed Kashmir ops, and any Pakistan weakness boosts Lashkar-e-Taiba types. Khan’s era? His Afghan policy is blamed by some for opening doors, but PTI flips it: “Current rulers cozy up to extremists too.”
Experts like Hassan Askari Rizvi say: “These raids buy time, but need jobs, schools, and talks with tribes. Guns alone won’t end it—especially with Khan’s voice stirring the pot.” UN warns: 2025’s violence displaced 50,000 more.
President Asif Ali Zardari praised the troops: “Your courage shields the nation—salute!” PM Shehbaz Sharif added: “Terror has no home here; we’ll root it out.” Afghan FM Amir Khan Muttaqi shot back: “Pakistan makes false claims—focus inward.”
Hope Amid the Hills: Can Peace Take Root?
As sweep teams wrap up, villages breathe easier—but warily. Army plans more ops, plus “hearts and minds” drives: Clinics, roads, cash for affected families. TTP vows revenge; next blast could be anywhere. For now, 38 less guns on the street—that’s something. But true quiet? That needs neighbors talking, not shouting—and maybe Khan at the table, if his jail bars break.
In Dera Ismail Khan’s bazaar, a tea seller muses: “We’ve buried too many. Let these raids be the last echo.” Will they? Time—and more tips—will tell. Share your take: Does force work, or need more?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What happened in these Pakistan Army raids?
A: Between November 15-17, 2025, security forces hit TTP hideouts in four Khyber Pakhtunkhwa districts. In Dera Ismail Khan (Kulachi): 10 killed, including commander Alam Mehsud. North Waziristan (Datta Khel): 5 dead, one a local boss. Bajaur: 11 down, led by Sajjad (Abuzar). Bannu: 12 eliminated. Total 38 militants, no army losses reported. Weapons seized; ops based on intel tips.
Q2: Who is the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and why target them?
A: TTP is a banned militant group fighting Pakistan’s government since 2007, wanting strict Sharia rule. Allied to Afghan Taliban but separate—they’ve killed thousands in blasts and hits. Army calls them “Khawarij” for alleged Afghan/India backing (denied by both). 2025 saw 500+ attacks; these raids aim to smash their border networks before winter hides them.
Q3: How does Imran Khan fit into this?
A: Khan, jailed ex-PM and PTI founder, hasn’t commented on these raids directly (censored from X). But his 2021 praise for Afghan Taliban’s “shackles of slavery” win is blamed for emboldening TTP. PTI in KP accuses army of using ops to suppress them—Chief Minister Gandapur slammed feds for “flawed policies” fueling militancy. Khan calls military his ouster “injustice,” tying it to broader Pathan unrest that TTP exploits.
Q4: How do these districts factor into the insurgency?
A: All near Afghan border—smugglers’ routes for TTP. Dera Ismail Khan: Trade hub turned ambush spot. North Waziristan: Old Taliban fort, drone-famous. Bannu: Refugee mix, easy recruits. Bajaur: Porous line, mosque blasts common. Together, they host 1M+ Afghans; ops displace more but cut supply lines.
Q5: What’s the impact on locals and refugees?
A: Fear rules—curfews, closed schools, kids scared of night booms. 100,000+ displaced from past ops; Bannu/Dera camps shut, worsening Afghan refugee woes (1M in KP). Economy dips: Farms idle, shops empty. But some feel safer; aid groups push for quick rebuilds to win trust. PTI angle: Raids hit PTI strongholds, sparking whispers of political targeting.
Q6: Why is TTP rising again now?
A: Afghan Taliban win in 2021 gave them bases/safe passage. Attacks up 60% in 2025—blasts in Peshawar, ambushes on troops. Poverty, floods recruit kids; black-market arms flow easy. Pakistan blames Kabul; experts say need dev work, not just raids—Khan’s policies added fuel, per critics.
Q7: Will these raids end the violence?
A: Short-term yes—disrupts plans, grabs gear. But TTP bounces back; 2014 ops cleared areas, yet they’re here. Need jobs, schools, tribe talks. Think tank: Violence up 3 months due to tit-for-tat. More ops likely this winter—Khan’s PTI unrest could complicate.