ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s security forces have killed 38 Indian backed terrorists in a series of intelligence-based operations conducted between November 15 and 17 in northwestern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, a military statement said on Tuesday.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, 23 terrorists belonging to ‘Indian Proxy Fitna-al-Khawarij’ were killed in two separate operations in the province between November 16 and 17.
The state uses the term Fitna al Khwarij to refer to terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). It has also designated Balochistan-based groups as Fitna al Hindustan to highlight India’s role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan. Similarly, the term ‘khwarij’ refers to Indian sponsored terrorists operating from Afghanistan’s territory.
The ISPR said the troops launched a major intelligence-led operation in Bajaur after confirming the presence of the terrorists. The hideout was “effectively engaged,” resulting in the killing of 11 militants, including their reported ringleader, Sajjad—also known as Abuzar.
In a separate IBO in the Bannu district, security forces neutralised 12 additional Khwarij militants, the ISPR said.
It said sanitisation and clearance operations were underway in both areas to hunt down any remaining Indian-sponsored terrorists.
It added that the ongoing counterterrorism campaign under the vision of “Azm-e-Istehkam,” approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, would continue at full pace.
Security forces reaffirmed their resolve to eliminate foreign-backed terrorism and protect national security at all costs.
Earlier in the day, the ISPR said that 15 terrorists were killed in two operations conducted on November 15 and 16.
In the first operation, carried out in the Kalachi area of Dera Ismail Khan district, security forces targeted a hideout and killed 10 terrorists, including their senior commander Alam Mehsud.
A second operation in Datta Khel, North Waziristan, resulted in the killing of five terrorists, while operations against outlaws continue.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have praised the security forces for their successful operations against Fitna-al-Khawarij.
In a statement, the president said, the elimination of foreign-backed terrorists from Pakistan will continue with national consensus. He added that the killing of terrorists, including their group leaders, reflects the effectiveness of the security forces’ strategy.
Pakistan has consistently urged the Interim Afghan Government to implement effective border management on their side and is expected to fulfill their obligations by preventing Afghan territory from being used by Khwarij and stopping the involvement of Afghan citizens in acts of terrorism within Pakistan.
