Security forces eliminated a total of nine terrorists, including two “high-value targets,” in two separate operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported on Monday.
Seven terrorists, including commanders Najeeb aka Abdul Rehman and Ishfaq alias Muavia, were eliminated in an intelligence-based operation in the Tira area of Khyber District. The slain militants were involved in numerous terrorist activities and were wanted by law enforcement agencies. Weapons, ammunition, and explosives were also recovered from the scene.
In another operation in KP’s Lakki Marwat district, troops engaged a terrorist location, resulting in the elimination of two more terrorists, according to ISPR.
Sanitisation operations are ongoing to eliminate any remaining terrorist presence in the area, demonstrating the security forces’ commitment to eradicating terrorism from the country.
Pakistan has seen a rise in terrorist attacks, particularly in areas bordering Afghanistan in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, attributed to the banned outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Pakistan has repeatedly expressed concerns to the interim Taliban government about the use of Afghan soil by various militant organizations, including the TTP, to launch attacks inside Pakistan.
As part of its counter-terrorism efforts, security forces conducted 7,745 anti-terror operations from April 1 to June 10. These operations took place in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh, with the most (4,902) in Balochistan, followed by 2,701 in KP, and 142 in Sindh. A total of 181 militants were killed in these operations: 128 in KP, 51 in Balochistan, and two in Sindh.
Last week, the federal government approved Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, a reinvigorated national counter-terrorism drive, to eliminate terrorism from the country. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif clarified that this was not a large-scale military operation and would not involve population displacement.
