Security forces killed 34 terrorists in a series of high-tempo, intelligence-based operations (IBOs) across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, the military’s media wing said on Wednesday.
In a statement, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the operations were conducted over the past few days as part of a sustained counter-terrorism campaign targeting Indian-sponsored proxies Fitna Al Khwarij and Fitna Al Hindustan.
According to ISPR, on February 24, security forces neutralised 26 terrorists linked to Fitna Al Khwarij in four separate engagements across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In a separate operation in the Sambaza area of Zhob district, Balochistan, eight militants associated with Fitna Al Hindustan were killed.
ISPR said troops detected the movement of a militant group near Hassan Khel, North Waziristan, close to the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, as it attempted to infiltrate.
The group was engaged effectively, resulting in the killing of one terrorist later identified as an Afghan national.
In another intelligence-based operation in Lakki Marwat, three militants were killed after a fierce exchange of fire.
Simultaneously, in two separate engagements in the Narmi Khel area of Bannu, troops neutralised 10 terrorists.
A further operation on precise intelligence in Mir Ali, North Waziristan, resulted in the killing of 12 militants.
ISPR said weapons and ammunition were recovered from the killed militants, who were involved in multiple terrorist attacks in the region. It added that clearance and sanitisation operations are continuing to eliminate any remaining threats.
Security forces reiterated that the nationwide counter-terrorism drive under the “Azm-e-Istehkam” vision would continue at full pace until foreign-sponsored terrorism is eradicated.
PM, president and interior minister praise security forces
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the security forces for the successful operations in KP and Balochistan, commending their professionalism and resolve. He said the government remained determined to eliminate terrorism from the country.
President Asif Ali Zardari also lauded the forces, calling the operations a reflection of their effectiveness, and stressed that there should be no let-up in efforts to safeguard national security.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi echoed the praise, saying timely actions had foiled militant designs and marked a major success in the fight against terrorism.
