The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Saturday announced the killing of eight terrorists in two “high-tempo” intelligence-based operations in Balochistan’s Kharan and Mastung districts.
In a statement, the military’s media wing said the IBO’s were conducted on June 25 and 26 as part of an ongoing counter-terrorism campaign aimed at eliminating Fitna al-Hindustan, the state’s designation for Balochistan-based terrorist groups allegedly backed by India.
According to the ISPR, security forces had learnt of the movement of a group of terrorists in Kharan on June 25. “As a result of precise and skillful engagement, three terrorists belonging to Indian proxy Fitna al-Hindustan were sent to hell while several were injured,” it said.
A day later, on June 26, forces conducted a pre-emptive intelligence-based operation in Mastung against the “possible presence of a suicide bomber.” During the operation, troops effectively engaged the terrorist location and after an intense fire exchange, five terrorists, including a suicide bomber, were successfully neutralized.
“Weapons, ammunition, improvised explosive devices and motorbikes used by these terrorists were also recovered,” read the ISPR statement.
It said sanitization operations were ongoing to eliminate any remaining Indian-sponsored terrorists found in the area, adding the counterterrorism campaign would continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country.
In separate statements, both President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the security forces for the successful operations. The president said the operations demonstrated the professionalism and determination of the forces.
“Operations should continue until the complete eradication of foreign-sponsored terrorism in the country,” he said.
The prime minister also stressed that the struggle against militancy would continue until the complete eradication of all forms of terrorism from Pakistan. “The enemies of Pakistan’s peace will be given a crushing defeat on every front,” he added.