Key points
- AFP claimed 11 were killed in 3 drone strikes against terrorists
- Pakistani military has not confirmed the strikes yet
- KP provincial government confirmed the security action
ISLAMABAD: New evidence coming out of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province’s Katlang mountains, where the military reportedly carried out drone strikes on Fitna Al Khawarij (FAK) – Pakistani Taliban – hideouts, has belied earlier claims that civilians were among those killed.
Pakistan’s military has not yet confirmed the strikes, but AFP news agency previously claimed that 11 people were killed in “Three drone strikes” on Friday night targeting FAK sanctuaries.
Katlang mountains are situated in the heart of KP with Mardan and Swabi on one side and Swat and Mingora on the other.
According to sources, these mountains have been FAK’s area of interest since early 2023 and have been subject to military operations earlier.
The mountains with their 3500-4000 feet elevation, steep cuttings, caves, and rugged terrain are not of any interest to the local population but best suited hideouts for terrorists.
Google imagery
Sources claimed that terrorist hideouts in Katlang are located 6-9 Km away from the nearest population of Babuzai and Katlang.
Google imagery and video evidence also confirmed that no population resides in such inhospitable terrain.
“It is only utilised by terrorists as their base when they return from Afghanistan,” they said.
Walaya
Moreover, the interest of FAK in the areas is visible from the recent announcement of appointments with Mardan declared a Walaya (command) and commanders nominated for the Katlang area.
K Abdul Hameed Hamasi was appointed as Walaya commander to the area in January 2025, as per FAK documents seen by the sources.
Reports indicate that apart from multiple attacks conducted on Swat Motorway and Mardan police, terrorists used hideouts in Katlang to undertake attacks on a Chinese Convoy in Besham in March 2024 and a foreign diplomats’ convoy near Malam Jabba in September 2024.
Previous operations
In September 2024, terrorists trying to establish hideouts in the Katlang area were neutralised in a joint operation. At least four terrorists were killed in the security forces’ action.
In Oct 2024, security forces in a 5-day-long operation reached the terrorists’ caves and destroyed their structures, a source said.
The photos of operation, hideouts and equipment recovered indicated that these areas are not accessible to locals.
Sources claim that failing in their efforts, terrorists adopted a new strategy to engage locals and recruit petty criminals to establish a facilitation base.
In the same backdrop, FAK terrorists even conducted a Jirga (tribal council/consultation) with some locals of Babuzai in Jan 2025, which some attended willingly, extending logistic support, they noted.
“FAK plan was to establish a large-sized command centre in the area to expand activities in hitherto peaceful districts of KP. A number of terrorists, especially Afghan Taliban arrived in the area since January 2025. Local facilitators extended full logistic support to them.”
