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RAWALPINDI:
Security forces have killed 13 terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in two separate intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Kurram and Bannu districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the army’s media wing said on Thursday.
A statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the operations were carried out on January 13 and 14, during which “Indian proxy Fitna-al-Khawarij” was killed.
Fitna al-Khawarij is a designated term for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban.
“In view of the reported presence of Khwarij, security forces carried out an intelligence-based operation in Bannu district. During the operation, our own troops effectively attacked the location of Khwarij and after an intense exchange of fire, eight Khwarij were sent to hell,” the press release said, adding that a separate operation in Kurram led to the elimination of five more terrorists.
The ISPR said remediation operations were being carried out to eliminate any other “Indian sponsored kharji” found in the area as part of the “relentless anti-terror campaign” under the vision of Azm-e-Istehkam, adding that it would continue at full pace to eliminate the “menace of foreign sponsored and supported terrorism” from the country.
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to security forces for eliminating India-backed Khawarij in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In a post on X, he said: “The war against terrorism caused by external interference will continue.”
“The war against terrorism will continue until it is completely eradicated from the country,” he added.
On the other hand, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also praised the security forces for successfully carrying out the operations and added that the security forces were achieving great successes against terrorism under the Azm-e-Istehkam strategy.
“The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with Pakistan’s armed forces in this war against terrorism,” the prime minister said, reaffirming the government’s resolve to completely eliminate all forms of terrorism from the country.
