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Security officials stand guard at a site. PHOTO: EXPRESS/ARCHIVE
KOHAT/RAWALPINDI:
A total of eleven terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij were neutralized in separate counter-terrorism operations in Kohat and Lakki Marwat districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Sunday.
According to officials, six terrorists were killed during an operation carried out by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Lachi area under the jurisdiction of Lachi police station in Kohat district.
Initial reports indicated that the terrorists had already taken up positions in the area and were lying in wait to attack the security personnel. As soon as the CTD operational team reached the spot, the terrorists launched a sudden attack.
CTD personnel responded quickly and effectively while Kohat police also rushed to the spot after receiving information about the exchange of fire and joined the operation. After an intense firefight, six terrorists linked to Fitna al-Khawarij were killed.
Immediately after the exchange of fire, a large-scale search and clearance operation was launched in the area. During the search, the bodies of the six terrorists were recovered along with a cache of arms and ammunition, including four hand grenades, six SMG rifles, six bandoliers, twelve spare magazines and a large quantity of cartridges, indicating that the terrorists had planned a prolonged battle.
Officials said the search operation in the area was continuing to ensure that there were no other terrorists hiding in the vicinity, while the process of identifying the slain terrorists and verifying their previous records had also begun.
Meanwhile, security forces carried out a separate intelligence-based operation in Lakki Marwat district in the suspected presence of terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij, the ISPR said in a statement.
During the operation, the troops effectively attacked the terrorists’ hideout and after an intense exchange of fire, five terrorists were killed.
Arms and ammunition were also recovered from the slain terrorists who, according to officials, had continued to be actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area. A disinfection operation is being carried out to eliminate the remaining terrorists as part of the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign under the vision of “Azm-e-Istehkam”.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tributes to security forces, KP Police and CTD for successful operations against terrorists in Kohat and Lakki Marwat.
The President said the elimination of terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij, who were carrying out terrorist acts under foreign patronage and trying to harm peace in Pakistan with the backing of India, was an important step towards restoring stability. He said the nation stood shoulder to shoulder with its brave security forces to eliminate foreign sponsored terrorism.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the professionalism and bravery of security forces and CTD personnel for eliminating the terrorists.
