RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Army said its security forces killed at least 34 militants associated with the Indian-backed group “Fitna al Khawarij” during multiple operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, said the counterterrorism operations took place between October 13 and 15 in North Waziristan, South Waziristan, and Bannu districts.
Acting on intelligence about militant presence, security forces launched an operation in the Spinwam area of North Waziristan, where they engaged the militants and killed 18 after a fierce exchange of fire.
In a separate operation in South Waziristan, troops killed eight more militants during another intense gun battle. A third engagement in Bannu district resulted in the elimination of an additional eight militants.
The ISPR said sanitisation operations are underway to clear the area of any remaining Indian-sponsored militants. It added that Pakistan’s security forces and law enforcement agencies remain fully committed to eradicating foreign-backed terrorism under the national counterterrorism vision “Azm-e-Istehkam,” approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan.
A day earlier on Wednesday, Pakistani security forces had killed 30 Fitna al Khawarij in the Mohmand district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to the security officials, the Khawarij were attempting to break into Pakistan’s territory and launch militant attacks on the armed forces check points.
However, the security forces launched massive attack and successfully targeted the militants. All 30 Khawarij aiming militancy in the area were eliminated by the forces.
The security forces recovered heavy weapons and explosives from the Khawarij.
