PESHAWAR, Pakistan: Pakistan police have killed three “Indian-sponsored” terrorists during an intelligence-based operation in Swat district of the country’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, a spokesperson for the provincial police said on Saturday.
According to the KP Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) force spokesperson, the killed terrorists were affiliated with Fitna al-Khawarij, a group identified as an Indian proxy. He said the joint operation was conducted in coordination with the police in the Barikot area of Swat.
The killed terrorists were identified as Ajmal alias Waqas, Mutiullah alias Junaid, and Rahimullah.
According to the CTD, the terrorists were involved in attacks on security forces and the killings of police personnel and were listed as most-wanted terrorists.
The CTD spokesperson said that the terrorists were also linked to IED attacks, extortion cases, and were part of a network receiving foreign funding to spread terror in the region.
The spokesperson said that the operation was launched after receiving credible intelligence regarding the presence of wanted terrorists in the area.
Regional Police Officer Sher Akbar Khan called the operation a decisive blow to the operational wings of Fitna al-Khawarij – a state term referring to the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan – in Swat and surrounding areas, affirming continued efforts to eradicate the group.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police chief Zulfiqar Hameed praised the CTD and police for the successful operation and stressed that operations against terrorists would be intensified to ensure lasting peace in the province.
Ajmal was involved in nine terrorism cases and had been wanted for murder and extortion. A bounty of Rs2 million had been announced for his arrest, police sources said, as quoted by Pakistani media.
Mutiullah was accused in two terrorism-related cases and was reportedly involved in the targeted killing of people aiding law enforcement agencies, local media reported, citing police sources.
Rahimullah was also wanted in two terrorism cases and was allegedly involved in targeted killings and providing logistical support to terrorists, police sources said, as cited by the media.
The CTD stated that all three terrorists were involved in attacks using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) against law enforcement, as well as assaults on police posts and infrastructure in the region.
Pakistan saw a slight decrease in terrorist attacks in June, according to a report released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), an Islamabad-based think tank.
The think tank recorded 78 terror attacks across the country during the month, resulting in at least 100 deaths.
Among the fatalities were 53 security personnel, 39 civilians, six terrorists, and two members of local peace committees.
A total of 189 people were injured, including 126 members of the security forces and 63 civilians.
The report noted an 8 percent drop in the number of attacks, a 12 percent decline in fatalities, and a marginal rise in injuries compared with figures from May.
Altogether, the violence and operations led to 175 deaths in June — among them, 55 security personnel, 77 militants, 41 civilians, and two peace committee members.
