RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s security forces killed 10 more Indian sponsored terrorists during an intelligence-based operation in the country’s north-western Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military’s media wing said on Saturday.
The operation took place on 11 September in the Lal Qilla Maidan area of Lower Dir district, the military’s media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.
ISPR added that the terrorists belonged to Fitna al-Khwarij, a term used by authorities to describe the outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Islamabad accuses of receiving support from India.
According to the statement, troops engaged the terrorists following intelligence reports of their presence. “After an intense fire exchange, 10 terrorists were sent to hell,” ISPR said.
However, during intense fire exchange, seven soldiers also embraced martyrdom, ISPR said. The martyred soldiers were identified as Naik Abdul Jalil (age: 39 years, resident of District North Waziristan), Naik Gul Jan (age: 38 years, resident of District Lakki Marwat), Lance Naik Azmat Ullah (age: 28 years, resident of District Lakki Marwat), Sepoy Abdul Malik (age: 28 years, resident of District Khyber), Sepoy Muhammad Amjad (age: 27 years, resident of District Malakand), Sepoy Muhammad Dawood (age: 23 years, resident of District Swabi), and Sepoy Fazal Qayum (age: 21 years, resident of District Dera Ismail Khan).
The military’s statement added that the troops “fought gallantly” while protecting civilians who had been taken hostage by the Indian sponsored terrorists.
ISPR further stated that intelligence reports “unequivocally confirmed” the involvement of Afghan nationals in the attack. It called on Afghanistan’s interim government to prevent its soil from being used for terrorist activity against Pakistan.
A sanitisation operation is ongoing in the area to clear remaining terrorists, the military said. “Such sacrifices of our brave men further strengthen our resolve,” the statement added.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant violence in recent months, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, with Islamabad accusing terrorist groups sheltering across the Afghan border of orchestrating attacks.
