Security forces on Sunday killed nine terrorists while carrying out two separate operations in North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with two terrorists arrested and two others injured, the army’s media wing said in a statement.
According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), “security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the general area of Dosalli, in [the] reported presence of Khwarij”.
During the encounter, security forces killed six terrorists, while two others were detained, the ISPR said.
Another IBO took place in Esham, where “after an intense exchange of gunfire, three Khwarij were neutralized by security forces, while two Khwarij was injured,” the statement reads.
The ISPR claimed that arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain terrorists, who “remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against security forces as well as targeted killings of innocent civilians.”
“Sanitation operations are being carried out to eliminate any other kharji found in the area, as Pakistani security forces are determined to eliminate the threat of terrorism from the country,” the statement concluded.
In July, the government, through an official notification, designated the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as Fitna al Khawarijwhile forcing all institutions to use the term khariji (marginalized) when referring to the perpetrators of terrorist attacks in Pakistan.
On Friday, the ISPR reported that five terrorists were killed at an IBO in KP’s Dera Ismail Khan.
A statement issued by the media wing said security forces carried out an IBO in DI Khan’s general Maddi area over the “reported presence” of terrorists. He said security forces “effectively engaged” the terrorists at their location, so five, including ringleader Shafiullah alias Shafi, were “sent to hell”.
Pakistan has recently witnessed a rise in terrorist activities, especially in KP and Balochistan.
Terrorist attacks have increased since the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan broke a fragile ceasefire agreement with the government. With at least 685 security forces personnel losing their lives amid a total of 444 terror attacks, 2024 turned out to be the deadliest year for Pakistan’s military and civilian security forces in a decade.
Equally alarming were the cumulative losses of civilians and security personnel: 1,612 deaths, representing more than 63 percent of the total recorded last year and representing 73 percent more losses compared to the 934 outlaws eliminated.
The total number of deaths recorded last year was a nine-year high and more than 66 percent higher than in 2023. On average, almost seven lives were lost daily.
