Security forces say six militants were killed in North Waziristan and five in Kurram during IBOs
Arms and ammunition were also recovered from slain khwarij over two IBOs. Source: ISPR
At least 11 khwarij belonging to what the military described as the Indian proxy Fitna Al Khwarij – a reference to the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) – were killed in two separate engagements in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on January 8, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
In a statement, the ISPR said an intelligence-based operation was conducted by security forces in North Waziristan district following reports of the presence of khwarij in the area. During the operation, six militants were killed.
In a separate joint intelligence-based operation in Kurram district, conducted by police and security forces, five more khwarij were killed, the statement said.
The ISPR said arms and ammunition were recovered from the militants who were “actively involved in several terrorist activities against the security forces, law enforcement agencies and target killing of innocent civilians”.
It added that remediation operations were underway to eliminate any other kharji present in the area. Arms and ammunition were also recovered from the slain Indian-sponsored khwarij, who, according to the statement, remained involved in terrorist activities and targeted killings.
Read: DG ISPR blames KP’s political milieu for rise in terrorism
The military said the clearance operations are part of a “relentless campaign against terrorism” under the vision of “Azm e Istehkam” as endorsed by the Federal Apex Committee of the National Action Plan. The campaign will continue “at full speed to wipe out the threat of foreign sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” the statement said.
Earlier this week, ISPR Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that 80 percent of all terrorist incidents in Pakistan have taken place in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
In a press conference on Tuesday, the top military spokesman attributed the trend to what he described as a “politically permissive environment” for militants and a burgeoning “nexus between political and militant elements” in the province.
He said the prevailing environment had enabled extremist groups to organise, build facilitation networks and repeatedly challenge state edicts, with implications for the country’s overall security situation.
