ISLAMABAD: Security forces killed 74 terrorists in intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, the military’s media wing said on Friday.
According to InterServices Public Relations (ISPR), 43 terrorists were killed during operations conductedoverthepast48 hours in KP, including 35 in Mir Ali, North Waziristan district, and eight in Orakzai district.
Another 31 terrorists were killed in Balochistan during an operation launched on Nov 3.
‘In a determined effort to eliminate terrorist threats and dismantle the Khwarij networks, security forces are conducting a series of intelligence-based operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
These operations have been further expanded to the areas of Mir Ali andOrakzai,’ the ISPR said.
Fitna al-Khawarij is a term used by the state for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
ISPR said intense exchanges of fire took place during the operations, dealing a ‘significant blow’ to terrorist networks operating in the areas.
It said a large cache of weapons, ammunition and explosives, including homemade explosives and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), was recovered during sanitisation operations.
The recoveries had thwarted plans by the terrorists to use the materials in attacks, the ISPR said, adding that operations were continuing to eliminate any remaining terroristsin the areas.
Operations in Balochistan Separately, security forces killed 31 terrorists in Balochistan during a’comprehensive intelligence-based area sanitisation operation’ launched on Nov 3 in the Kurram area of Quetta district.
The military’s media wing said the operation targeted terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan.
The latter is a term used by the state for Balochistanbased terrorist groups to highlight India’s alleged involvement in terrorism and destabilisation in Pakistan.
‘During the conduct of these intelligence-based operations, multiple terrorist hideouts were effectively engaged and after multiple engagements, thirty-one Indiansponsored Khwarij were sent to hell. Weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the Khwariji locations,’ the ISPR said.
It said sanitisation operations were continuing to eliminate any remaining terrorists in the area.
The military reaffirmed that counterterrorism operations under the Azm-i-Istehkam initiative would continue to combat ‘foreign-sponsored terrorism’.
Saleem Shahid in Quetta also contributed to this report