Security forces eliminated 18 terrorists in separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, state media reported on Wednesday, citing security sources.
In KP, Pakistan TV reported that security forces “killed 13 Fitna al-Khawarij terrorists in an intelligence-based operation in North Waziristan, as operations against militant groups continue under the Azm-e-Istehkam vision”.
Separately, in Balochistan’s Mastung district, security forces killed five terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Hindustan, Pakistan TV reported.
It added that security forces recovered heavy weapons and ammunition from the slain terrorists, and clearance and search operations were underway under Operation Radd-ul-Fitna 3.
Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, while the state has designated Balochistan-based terrorist groups as Fitna-al-Hindustan to highlight India’s alleged role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have commended the security forces for their successful operations against terrorists in KP and Balochistan, according to Radio Pakistan.
In his statement, the president said the operations were “a clear expression of the firm resolve against terrorist elements”.
In a separate statement, the prime minister said operations against Fitna-al-Khawarij will continue until the complete elimination of terrorism and the establishment of lasting peace in the country.
He said terrorists seeking to undermine the country’s peace and security will not be allowed to succeed in their “nefarious designs”.
Terrorism in KP, Balochistan
KP and Balochistan have witnessed terrorist attacks and security challenges for a long time.
KP, excluding the merged districts, recorded 54 terrorist attacks in August compared with 36 in July, representing an increase of 50 per cent, according to data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).
A day earlier, in another North Waziristan IBO, security forces killed five terrorists, state media said.
On October 2, security forces killed seven terrorists in an IBO in North Waziristan. On September 30, security forces killed three terrorists in an IBO in KP’s Mir Ali. A day before that, in an IBO in KP’s Bara area, security forces killed five terrorists. On Sept 28, four terrorists were killed during an IBO in Dera Ismail Khan.
On Sept 26, a dozen people lost their lives while 35 others were injured in a suicide blast that targeted the Aman Mela police checkpost in DI Khan’s Darazinda tehsil. On Sept 18, a major attack in the old Police Lines in KP’s Kohat claimed 23 lives and injured about 100 others. Eight terrorists were killed during an overnight clearance operation. On Sept 17, security forces killed 10 terrorists in separate operations in KP between Sept 15 and 17. Earlier that month, over 20 terrorists were killed during multiple engagements in KP between Sept 3 and 5.
Meanwhile, in Balochistan’s Chagai, security forces killed two terrorists on Sept 29.
The military’s media affairs wing said on Sept 27 that more than 71 terrorists had been killed in Shaban and other areas of Balochistan in the previous 96 hours. On Sept 17, three terrorists were eliminated in an IBO in Balochistan’s Awaran district’s Badrang area. Another three were killed in Mastung on Sept 14. Earlier in September, 21 terrorists were killed in separate engagements in Nokcha, Chagai, Ziarat Cross, and Pishin.
The number of terrorist attacks in the province increased by seven per cent from 83 in July to 89 in August, according to PICSS’ monthly assessment. As per the report, Balochistan was declared the province “most affected” by terrorism.
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