Says that weapons were recovered from terrorists, were actively involved in several terrorist activities
Security forces killed 24 terrorists in a series of intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Bannu district and adjoining areas in the last 24 hours, following a recent surge in attacks on police and vehicle-borne suicide bombers in the district, the military’s media wing said on Friday.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operations were launched “against a recent increase in terrorist activities against the police and vehicle-borne suicide bombings in Bannu District, where the Indian Proxy Fitna Al Khawarij targeting law enforcement agencies and innocent civilians”.
Fitna al-Khawarij is the term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
“Security forces had launched extensive joint intelligence-based operations to hunt down the perpetrators of these heinous attacks and their support infrastructure,” it added.
The military’s media wing said, “In the last 24 hours following the fierce exchanges of fire in Bannu district and adjoining areas, 24 hours khwarij belonging to Indian agent Fitna Al Khwarij was killed”.
Read: Two officers martyred in two KP attacks
ISPR said arms and ammunition were also recovered from those killed Khwarijwho “remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities and killing of innocent civilians”.
“The operations in the area will continue and the perpetrators of these heinous and cowardly acts will be brought to justice, as the relentless campaign against terrorism under the vision”Azm-e-Istehkam“(as endorsed by the Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) of Pakistan’s security forces and law enforcement agencies will continue full steam ahead to eradicate the menace of foreign sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” the statement concluded.
In a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the security forces and law enforcement agencies.
“The timely and effective operations by the security forces against those responsible for the recent terrorist attacks, especially the cowardly attacks on policemen and innocent civilians in Bannu, are commendable,” the Prime Minister said. He added that “the entire nation stands with its brave security personnel.”
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to fight terrorism, Prime Minister Shehbaz said: “The complete elimination of the scourge of terrorism and its facilitators remains the top priority of the government.”
He also promised action against those behind the attacks, saying, “The nefarious designs of terrorist elements operating under Indian patronage will be thwarted at all costs and all those involved in such dastardly attacks will be brought to justice.”
The latest operations come after coordinated terrorist attacks in KP on Wednesday. In Bannu, terrorists rammed a vehicle loaded with explosives into the Miryan police station before engaging security personnel in a prolonged gun battle, injuring six police officers and four civilians. Police said the attackers also blew up a damaged bridge leading to the station in an apparent attempt to delay reinforcements.
Terrorism has increased significantly in KP and Balochistan in the past few years. The increase in terrorist activity has led to growing concern over the security situation in these regions. In response, security forces have conducted intensive operations to counter the threat, targeting terrorist groups infiltrating from the Afghan border.
The federal government has consistently raised its voice in international forums against terrorist sanctuaries operating in Afghanistan and has used its soil to launch attacks on Pakistan – a development the UN Security Council attests to.
Read more: Five TTP terrorists killed in Bannu
Recent incidents in KP reflect the continuing security challenges facing the region.
On Monday, two police officers were killed and two others injured when a suspected remote-controlled improvised explosive device (IED) hit a police armored personnel carrier during a routine patrol on Wana-Jandola Road in KP’s Tank district.
On July 3, unidentified assailants carried out two separate acts of sabotage in Bannu district, targeting a government girls’ middle school and a key bridge.
Explosives planted inside the Government Girls Middle School in Mama Khel damaged parts of the building, cracked classroom walls and shattered windows and doors.
In a separate incident in Bachki area of Jani Khel, terrorists planted a drum filled with explosives under an important bridge, apparently in an attempt to disrupt transport links. Security forces and the bomb disposal unit defused the device before it could cause damage.
On June 20, at least seven people were killed when a passenger vehicle was hit by an IED attack in the region.
