Five terrorists killed, 10 held in N Waziristan IBO

ISPR says high-profile terrorist organisation's network decimated

ISLAMABAD:

The security forces in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in North Waziristan smashed a high profile terrorist network, killing its ringleader and his four associates and arrested 10 others, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Monday.

The ISPR, media wing of the military said that wanted terrorist Wasim Zakaria was the mastermind of the 30 difference act of terrorism since 2019, including target killings, attacks on security forces and other government officials.

Security forces conducted an IBO in Mir Ali town where five militants, including Zakaria, were killed while 10 were arrested, the ISPR said. “The terrorist organisation's network was destroyed after the operation,” the ISPR added in a statement.

According to ISPR, Wasim Zakaria belonged to Haider Khel area of Mir Ali. "Terrorist Wasim was involved in target killings and the martyrdom of CSS officer Zubaidullah Dawar," said the ISPR in a statement.

The statement added that wanted terrorist was directly involved in attacks on security forces. He was also involved in attacking an army convoy near Hassu Khel, it added.

Earlier in July, four soldiers of Pakistan Army embraced martyrdom when terrorists opened fire during an Intelligence-based operation IBO in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's North Waziristan district.

The military's media wing had said that all four terrorists were shot down by the security forces during the IBO which took place in Vezhda Sar, some eight kilometres south-west of Miranshah.

According to the recent FATA Research Centre’s annual security report for K-P tribal districts, there has been a 16 per cent decline in terrorism incidents and 24 per cent decline in casualties in 2019 compared to the preceding year.

“With exception to South Waziristan districts, a significant decline in terrorism related incidents and resultant casualties was observed in the remaining six districts of the former FATA,” the report stated.