Seven terrorists were killed by security forces during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kurram district, the military’s media affairs wing said on Thursday.
According to a press release issued by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operation was conducted on the reported presence of terrorists in the area.
It said security forces effectively engaged terrorists of the Fitna Al Khawarij, formerly called the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and seven were killed while five were injured.
The ISPR added their hideout was also busted and a large quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosives were recovered.
It said the slain militants were “actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against the security forces as well as the innocent civilians.
“Sanitisation operation is being conducted to eliminate any other kharji (outcasts) found in the area as the security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe-out the menace of terrorism from the country.”
President Asif Ali Zardari appreciated the professionalism shown by the security forces for the successful operation and paid tribute to them.
According to a press release from the President House’s media wing, Zardari reiterated the national commitment to eliminate terrorism from the country.
“The entire nation is with the security forces for the total eradication of terrorism,” the president said.
Last week, an officer embraced martyrdom during an exchange of fire in the Tirah Valley’s Bagh area of Khyber district.
Similary, two soldiers and five civilians were martyred in a terrorist attack on a rural health centre in Dera Ismail Khan district in July.
Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in terror activities in the past year, especially in KP and Balochistan after the TTP ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022.
According to an annual security report issued by the Centre for Research and Security Studies, Pakistan witnessed 1,524 violence-related fatalities and 1,463 injuries from 789 terror attacks and counter-terror operations in 2023 — marking a record six-year high.
KP and Balochistan were the primary centres of violence, accounting for over 90 per cent of all fatalities and 84pc of attacks, including incidents of terrorism and security forces operations.
Additional reporting by Nadir Guramani
