The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said nine people it described as “Indian-sponsored khwarij” were killed in two intelligence-based operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on 5 December.
The ISPR said the first operation took place in the Tank district after intelligence reports indicated the presence of people it linked to what it called “Indian Proxy Fitna Al Khwarij.” Troops conducted an intelligence-based operation and “effectively engaged” the site, leading to a firefight. After what the statement described as an “intense exchange of fire”, seven were killed.
Another operation took place the same day in Lakki Marwat district after intelligence pointed to several suspected militants in the area. Security forces came under fire and returned fire, the ISPR said, adding that two people were killed in the exchange.
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Weapons and ammunition were recovered from those killed in both operations. The ISPR said the individuals had been involved in “numerous terrorist activities” targeting security forces, law enforcement agencies as well as in “target killings of innocent civilians.” No details were shared about the specific incidents or the recovered material.
The ISPR said clearance operations were underway in the surrounding areas to ensure that no other “Indian-sponsored khwarij” remained. It said the follow-up actions were part of a wider counter-terrorism campaign under the government’s “Azm-e-Istehkam” framework, approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan.
The campaign will continue “in full swing” with the aim of eliminating “the menace of foreign sponsored and supported terrorism from the country”, the ISPR said. The statement did not report any injuries among security personnel or mention whether any arrests were made.
The ISPR did not release further operational details or identify those killed, and no independent confirmation of the events was immediately available.
