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RAWALPINDI:
Security forces have killed 13 terrorists belonging to the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in two separate intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Kurram and Bannu districts, the military’s media wing said on Thursday.
A statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the operations were conducted on 13-14 January when the “Indian Proxy Fitna-al-Khawarij” was killed.
Fitna al-Khawarij is a term used for the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban.
“On reported presence of khwarij, an intelligence-based operation was conducted by the security forces in Bannu district. During the execution of the operation, own troops effectively engaged the khwarij locality and after an intense exchange of fire, eight khwarij were sent to hell,” the press release said, adding that a separate operation in Kurram led to the elimination of five more terrorists.
The ISPR said clearance operations were being carried out to eliminate any other “Indian-sponsored kharji” found in the area as part of the “relentless counter-terrorism campaign” under the Azm-e-Istehkam vision, adding that it would continue at full pace to wipe out the “menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism” from the country.
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari hailed the security forces for eliminating the Indian-backed Khawarij in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In a post on X, he said: “War on terrorism caused by external interference will continue.”
“War on terrorism will continue until it is completely eradicated from the country,” he added.
Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also praised the security forces for successfully conducting the operations, adding that the security forces achieved major successes against terrorism under the Azm-e-Istehkam strategy.
“The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with Pakistan’s armed forces in this war against terrorism,” the prime minister said, reaffirming the government’s resolve to completely eradicate all forms of terrorism from the country.
