Security forces eliminate 34 terrorists in KP, Balochistan IBO’s: ISPR

Security forces have killed 34 terrorists belonging to the banned Fitna Al Khwarij and Fitna Al Hindustan militant groups in separate Intelligence Based Operations (IBO) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, the military’s media wing said on Wednesday.

In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said security forces carried out a series of “high-tempo, intelligence-driven operations” as part of a counter-terrorism campaign aimed at eliminating the “Indian proxies”.

The state uses the term Fitna Al Khwarij for terrorists associated with the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, while Fitna Al Hindustan refers to outlawed outfits operating in Balochistan.

Read: Security forces kill 22 more terrorists in Balochistan as three-day toll hits 177

According to the statement, 26 terrorists must belong Fitna Al Khwarij were killed in four separate engagements in KP while eight terrorists attached to Fitna Al Hindustan was killed during an operation in Balochistan on Tuesday.

The ISPR said that the movement of a group of terrorists who were trying to infiltrate through the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in the general area of ​​Hassan Khel, North Waziristan district, was detected by security forces. Troops engaged the group and killed one terrorist, adding that the slain member was identified as an Afghan national.

In a separate IBO in Lakki Marwat district, three terrorists were killed after an intense exchange of fire, the statement said.

Simultaneously, security forces carried out two engagements in the general area of ​​Narmi Khel in Bannu district in which 10 terrorists were killed. In another operation in Mir Ali area of ​​North Waziristan, 12 terrorists were eliminated based on accurate intelligence, ISPR added.

During a fifth engagement in Sambaza area of ​​Zhob district, eight terrorists belonging Fitna Al Hindustan was killed after a fierce exchange of fire.

“Arms and ammunition were also recovered from Indian-sponsored slain khwarij and terrorists who remained actively involved in several terrorist activities in the area,” it said.

The ISPR said clearance operations were underway to eliminate any remaining terrorists. It reiterated that security forces, along with law enforcement agencies, would continue operations under the vision of “Azm-i-Istehkam”, endorsed by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, to eradicate foreign sponsored terrorism from the country.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailed the security forces for their successful operations.

“With professional expertise and strategic precision, the security forces eliminated 26 terrorists Fitna al-Khawarij in KP and eight terrorists of Fitna al-Hindustan in Balochistan during several operations,” he said.

He said that the armed forces of Pakistan continued to achieve decisive successes against terrorist organizations.

“Under the vision of Azm-e-Istehkam, terrorism will soon be eradicated from the country,” the prime minister said, adding that the government remained determined to ensure complete elimination of terrorism from the nation.