RAWALPINDI: Security forces and law enforcement agencies killed 22 terrorists during a joint intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Khyber district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) on April 21, the military’s media wing said on Friday.
According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), a joint operation was carried out in which terrorists belonging to the Khawarij group, affiliated with the India-backed Fitna al Khawarij network, were killed following an intense exchange of fire with security forces.
The state uses the term Fitna al Khawarij for the terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The statement said, “Khawarij resorted to indiscriminate firing, which resulted in martyrdom of a ten-year-old innocent child”.
According to ISPR, “weapons and ammunition from killed Indian-sponsored Khawarij”, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area.
The statement added that sanitisation operations are underway to eliminate any remaining terrorists in the area. The statement highlighted that the counter-terrorism campaign under the vision “Azm-e-Istehkam,” approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, will continue at full pace.
“Security forces of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country and such sacrifice of our innocent civilians further strengthens our resolve,” the statement concluded.
The Apex Committee of the National Action Plan, in June 2024, approved Operation Azm-e-Istehkam to eliminate terrorism and extremism across the country. The operation aims to eradicate extremism and terrorism decisively and comprehensively.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have commended security forces for their successful operation in Khyber. In separate statements, both leaders expressed profound grief over the martyrdom of a 10-year-old child, who was killed by indiscriminate firing from the terrorists, Radio Pakistan reported.
The president noted that while Pakistan continues to strive for regional and global peace, terrorists are attempting to undermine these efforts. He affirmed that Pakistan remains committed to defeating terrorism and maintaining its role in promoting stability.
Similarly, the prime minister reaffirmed that the campaign against terrorism will persist until the menace is completely eradicated, adding that the entire nation stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the security forces in their unwavering resolve.
