The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday announced security forces had “eliminated” 34 “India-backed” terrorists as a result of “intelligence driven operations” in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
In a statement, the military’s media wing said the counter-terrorism campaign targeted Indian proxies Fitna al-Khwarij and Fitna al-Hindustan, the state’s descriptors for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and Baloch insurgents, respectively.
It said 26 terrorists were killed in four separate engagements across KP on Feb. 24, adding eight terrorists were killed the same day in Sambaza, Balochistan. “Movement of a group of khwarij, opposite general area Hassan Khel, North Waziristan district, who were trying to infiltrate through Pakistan-Afghanistan border, was picked up by the security forces,” it said, adding troops had effectively engaged this group.
“As a result of precise and skillful engagement, one kharji belonging to Indian proxy, Fitna al-Khwarij was sent to hell. It is significant to highlight that killed kharji has been identified as an Afghan national,” it said.
Separately, read the statement, three terrorists were killing during an intelligence-based operation in Lakki Marwat district. “Simultaneously, in two separate engagements in general area Narmi Khel, Bannu district, own troops effectively neutralized 10 khwarij, while operating on precise intelligence, own troops successfully eliminated 12 khwarij in general area Mir Ali, North Waziristan district,” it added.
The fifth engagement, per the ISPR, saw troops facing off against terrorists in Sambaza during an intelligence-based operation. “After an intense fire exchange, eight terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Hindustan were successfully neutralized,” it said.
According to the ISPR, troops recovered weapons and ammunition from all the slain terrorists, emphasizing that the militants were actively involved in numerous terrorist activities.
“Security forces of Pakistan remain resolute and unwavering in their commitment to defend the nation’s frontiers,” it said. “Sanitization operation are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian sponsored Kharji found in the area as relentless counter-terrorism campaign under Vision Azm-e-Istehkam (as approved by Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” it added.
Pakistan is currently in the midst of a terror resurgence that commenced with the return to power of the Afghan Taliban in August 2021. Despite repeated calls from Pakistan to curtail terrorism emanating from their soil, the interim Afghan government has failed to take action, resulting in Islamabad last week conducting intelligence-based airstrikes on seven terrorist camps and hideouts inside Afghanistan.