Security forces on Wednesday night conducted an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Bajaur district, killing nine Khwarij and recovering a large cache of weapons and explosives, according to a statement issued by the military’s media wing.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the IBO was conducted on the reported presence of Khwarij, a blanket term for militants but usually referring to terrorists of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). It said that an intense exchange of fire between the Khwarij and security forces had gunned down nine militants, including two suicide bombers and a high-value target, identified as “ringleader” Said Muhammad alias Qureshi Ustad.
“A large quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosives was also recovered from killed Khwarij, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against the security forces as well as innocent civilians,” it added.
The military’s media wing said a sanitization operation was underway to eliminate any remaining Kharji in the area, vowing that security forces were determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country.
Pakistan is currently in the midst of a terror resurgence, triggered by the return to power of the Afghan Taliban in 2021. The government earlier this year announced the all-encompassing Vision Azm-e-Istehkam to counter the threat, and has repeatedly voiced frustration at the interim Afghanistan government’s inability to restrain militants sheltering on its soil.
According to a report published by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), the first three quarters of this year recorded 1,534 deaths from terror-related incidents, with 722 slain in the third quarter alone.