Security forces kill 74 terrorists in Balochistan, KP operations: ISPR

Security forces have killed 74 terrorists in separate intelligence-based operations in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Friday.

According to the military’s media wing, security forces have been conducting a comprehensive intelligence-based area sanitisation operation in the Kurram area of Quetta district, Balochistan, since November 3.

During the operation, troops engaged multiple terrorist hideouts and killed 31 terrorists following several engagements, the ISPR said in a statement.

Weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the hideouts, it added.

In a separate statement, the ISPR said security forces had expanded their intelligence-based operations in KP to Mir Ali and Orakzai as part of efforts to dismantle terrorist networks.

Over the past 48 hours, troops killed 35 terrorists in Mir Ali and eight in Orakzai following intense exchanges of fire, bringing the total number of terrorists killed in the three operations to 74.

The military’s media wing said a large quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosives, including homemade explosives and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), was also recovered during the operations.

The recoveries thwarted the terrorists’ plans to use the material in terrorist activities, it added.

Sanitisation operations are continuing to eliminate any remaining terrorists in the affected areas, the ISPR said.

It added that the counterterrorism campaign under the vision of “Azm-e-Istehkam”, approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, would continue at full pace to eliminate foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country.

In a statement issued by the President House, President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to the security forces for eliminating terrorists during a successful intelligence-based operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

President Zardari stated that the continuous successes of the security forces in the war against terrorism are a manifestation of national resolve and professional capabilities.

The president directed that operations be continued against foreign-sponsored terrorist elements active in harming Pakistan’s security.

“The recovery of weapons, ammunition, and explosive materials from the possession of the terrorists is proof of the security forces’ effective action,” he said.

President Zardari emphasised that the complete eradication of the foreign-sponsored terrorist networks of Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan is a requirement of national security.

He affirmed that the nefarious designs of foreign-sponsored terrorists seeking to harm the peace and stability of Pakistan will not be allowed to succeed.

Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised security forces for the operations in KP and Balochistan, commending their personnel for killing 74 terrorists and destroying multiple hideouts.

In a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Shehbaz also lauded the professionalism and courage of security personnel for recovering a large quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosives during the operation.

“Security forces are working round the clock to thwart the designs of elements hostile to the country,” he said .

The prime minister reiterated that the fight against foreign-sponsored terrorism would continue with full force under the National Action Plan until its complete elimination.