Security forces killed at least 13 India-sponsored terrorists during separate intelligence-based operations (IBO) in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, according to statements issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Sunday.
The military’s media wing said the IBO in KP’s Malakand was initiated on the reported presence of “Fitna al-Khwarij” terrorists and included security forces, police, Levies, Counter-Terrorism Department and Malakand district administration officials. The operation spanned July 16-20, it added.
According to the statement, security forces skillfully surrounded and effectively engaged the terrorists’ location, neutralizing the nine “khwarij” and arresting eight others after intense multiple fire exchanges. It said two terrorist hideouts were discovered and a large quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosives recovered.
“Locals of the area appreciated the operation and expressed their full support to the state’s counter terrorism efforts,” read the statement, adding a sanitization operation was conducted to eliminate any other terrorists in the area.
In separate statements, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif both commended security forces for the operation targeting terrorists in Malakand.
In Kalat, an IBO conducted by security forces killed four terrorists. The ISPR said the operation had targeted militants associated with “Fitna al Hindustan” on their reported presence.
“During the conduct of the operation, own forces effectively engaged the terrorists’ location, and after an intense exchange of fire, four Indian sponsored terrorists were sent to hell,” read the statement. “Weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the terrorists, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area,” it added.
Security forces and law enforcement agencies have reaffirmed their commitment to wipe out the menace of Indian-sponsored terrorism from the country.