Soldiers stand guard as parents arrive with their children at the Army Public School in Peshawar on January 12, 2015. PHOTO: AFP
RAWALPINDI:
Security forces thwarted a major terrorist attempt to repeat the 2014 Army Public School (APS) tragedy and thwarted an armed attack by terrorists belonging to the Indian proxy Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or Fitna al Khwarij at the Cadet College Wana in South Waziristan, the military said on Monday.
According to a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), “Khwarij, who belonged to the Indian proxy Fitna al Khwarij, on November 10, 2025, in a heinous and cowardly act of terrorism, attacked Cadet College Wana in South Waziristan District.”
The ISPR said the attackers tried to breach the college’s perimeter security, but “their sinister designs were quickly foiled by the alert and resolute response of their own troops.” In desperation, the terrorists rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the main gate, causing it to collapse and damaging nearby infrastructure.
“Exhibiting unflinching courage and professional expertise, own troops engaged the intruders with precision, eliminating two khwarij…. However, three Khwarij managed to enter the college premises, which have been surrounded in the College’s administrative block,” ISPR added.
The statement said the attackers had once again tried to repeat “the barbaric act of terror carried out by them in Army Public School Peshawar in 2014,” with the aim of instilling fear among students from the tribal districts who were pursuing education for a better future.
The ISPR further said that “The Khwarij who are hiding inside the university premises are in touch with their masters and handlers in Afghanistan and are receiving instructions. This blatant act of barbarism orchestrated by the Khwarij of Afghanistan is contrary to the claims of the Afghan Taliban regime, which claims that these terror groups are not present on their soil.”
It warned that Pakistan reserves the right to respond against terrorists and their leadership present in Afghanistan. “Clearing operations are being conducted to eliminate remaining Indian-sponsored kharjis,” it said.
“We will continue the relentless campaign against terrorism under the vision of ‘Azm-e-Istehkam’ (as approved by the Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) of Pakistan’s security forces and law enforcement agencies will continue at full speed to eradicate the menace of foreign sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” the statement concluded.
Separately, ISPR said security forces killed 20 Khwarij terrorists in two operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “On reported presence of khwarij, an intelligence-based operation was conducted by the security forces in the general area of Shawal, North Waziristan District. During the execution of the operation, own troops effectively engaged the khwarij location, eight Indian sponsored khwarij were sent to hell,” the statement said.
“Another intelligence-based operation was conducted in Dara Adam Khel district and after an intense exchange of fire, another 12 khwarij were effectively neutralized,” it added, confirming that clearance operations were underway to clear the area.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the armed forces for their successful operations in Shawal and Darra Adam Khel. The president praised the troops’ “courage and professionalism” and said the operations reflected the nation’s unity and resolve.
President Zardari reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to eradicating terrorism through “complete national consensus”. Prime Minister Shehbaz also hailed the forces for killing 20 terrorists and said, “The protection of Pakistan is our highest priority and we remain determined to eliminate any form of terrorism.”
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, in a separate statement, hailed the security personnel for their bravery, saying, “The timely actions of our forces have foiled the dastardly plans of the terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa… I salute our security forces for sending 20 terrorists to hell.”
He added that Pakistan’s forces achieved “significant successes in the fight against terrorism,” and remained determined to maintain peace in the entire region.
(WITH ACCESS FROM APP)
