Pakistani army soldiers. PHOTO: ISPR/FILE
QUETTA:
Security forces foiled a major terror plot in Balochistan’s Pishin district on Sunday, killing five terrorists belonging to the Indian proxy Fitna al Khwarij in a targeted intelligence-based operation.
According to Inter-Services Public Relations and security sources, forces received credible intelligence that members of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan were planning attacks on the police lines and Cadet College Pishin.
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The suspects were reportedly hiding in a house near the cadet dormitory and were finalizing preparations for the attacks. Following the tip-off, security forces cordoned off the area and launched a targeted operation.
According to the ISPR statement, troops engaged the terrorists and after an hour-long exchange, “one terrorist detonated himself with a suicide vest” while four others were killed by security forces.
A search of the premises led to the recovery of modern weapons, a large quantity of explosive material, hand grenades and maps of sensitive locations in Pishin, indicating detailed attack planning, the statement and security sources said.
The bodies were shifted to a hospital for autopsy. Officials said the terrorists had been involved in previous attacks on security forces, police and Counter-Terrorism Department personnel.
“During the execution of the operation, own troops effectively engaged the entire tashkeel with multiple weapons. After an intense exchange of fire, suicide bomber Kharji blew himself up and four other Indian-sponsored Khwarij were hunted down and sent to hell,” the ISPR statement said.
“Arms, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from Khwarij, who remained actively involved in several terrorist activities in the area.”
It added that clearance operations were underway to eliminate all other Indian-sponsored terrorists in the area.
“Relentless campaign against terrorism under the vision of ‘Azm e Istehkam’ (as endorsed by the Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by Pakistan’s security forces and law enforcement agencies will continue at full speed to wipe out the menace of foreign sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” the ISPR statement read.
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President Asif Ali Zardari hailed the security forces for the successful operation against Fitna al-Khawarij in Pishin district. “The intelligence-based operation against the Indian proxy Fitna al-Khawarij reflects the national resolve against terrorism,” President Zardari said.
“The fight against the scourge of terrorism will continue until its complete elimination,” the president said.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also praised the security forces’ capacity to bring to an end five terrorists.
“The nation is proud of the courage and professional excellence of the security forces,” he said. “The successful operations of the security forces to bring peace in Balochistan are commendable.”
Separately, two terrorists, including a detained commander, were killed on Sunday when the outlaws attacked a CTD vehicle in an attempt to free their boss in Bannu district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
According to officials, the CTD team was transporting a recently arrested high-profile terrorist commander, Usama (alias Daniyal, alias Baghi), to identify the crime scene related to the killing of Miranshah Assistant Commissioner Shah Wali Khan.
The suspect was taken to complete evidentiary requirements in the case when his accomplices launched an indiscriminate attack on the convoy to secure his release.
CTD’s SWAT team promptly responded, leading to an intense gun battle. During the crossfire, an attacker’s bullet hit the detained commander. The CTD’s armored personnel carrier also came under direct fire, but the personnel remained unharmed.
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Authorities said during interrogation that the slain commander had confessed to involvement in several high-profile attacks, including the killing of Assistant Commissioner Shah Wali Khan, former SHO Abid Wazir and three leaders of Marwat Qaumi Tehreek.
In retaliatory fire, security forces also killed another terrorist identified as Kamyab Khan alias Ikhlas Yar, son of Nabuwat Khan, a resident of Kabul Khel Shewa, North Waziristan.
He was wanted by CTD Bannu in several cases involving attacks on police and security forces. Arms recovered from his possession included a Kalashnikov rifle with two magazines, two hand grenades, a card linked to the banned TTP, a CNIC and a mobile phone.
With input from our Peshawar correspondent
