Security forces have killed at least 15 terrorists, including a ringleader affiliated with Indian proxy Fitna al-Khawarij, in two separate intelligence-based operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military’s media wing announced on Tuesday.
In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the operations took place between Nov. 15 and 16 against the India-backed terrorists. “On reported presence of khawarij, an intelligence-based operation was conducted by the security forces in general area Kulachi, Dera Ismail Khan district,” it said, adding 10 terrorists, including ringleader Alam Mehsud, were killed during the operation.
It said five more terrorists were successfully neutralized in a separate intelligence-based operation conducted in the general area of Datta Khel, North Waziristan district.
“Sanitization operations 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 menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” it said.
In a statement, President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to the security forces for the successful operations. He said work would continue on eliminating foreign-backed terrorists with national consensus. He attributed the killing of the terrorist ringleader to the successful strategy of the security forces. He warned that political moves to divert attention from the national consensus on terrorism would not be tolerated.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, separately, hailed security forces for their successes against terrorism under the vision of Azm-e-Istehkam. “We are determined to completely eradicate all forms of terrorism from the country,” he added.