Eight terrorists killed in S Waziristan IBO

ISPR says two soldiers also martyred in gun battle

RAWALPINDI:

Eight terrorists were killed and two soldiers martyred in an intelligence-based operation in the Zarmilan area of South Waziristan district on Saturday.

According to a statement issued by the military’s media wing, an “intense exchange of fire took place” between the security forces and terrorists during the operation. 

“Our own troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location. Resultantly, eight terrorists were sent to hell,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated. Two soldiers – Lance Maik Shoaib Ali, 25, a resident of Parachinar in Kurran district, and Sepoy Rafiullah, 22, a resident of Lakki Marwat district – embraced martyrdom after fighting gallantly in the gun battle with militants, the ISPR added.

“Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain terrorists, who remained actively involved in terrorist activities against the security forces and the killing of innocent civilians.”

Following the operation, the sanitisation of the area was being carried out to eliminate any other terrorists found there, it added.
“The security forces of Pakistan remain determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve,” the ISPR said.

On Thursday, the security forces gunned down three terrorists and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition during an IBO that was initiated to clear their hideout in Turbat.

According to the ISPR, the slain terrorists were involved in firing incidents on security forces and civilians, besides planting of improvised explosive devices on Turbat-Hoshab Road in general area Gishkore.

Read Soldier martyred in North Waziristan skirmish with terrorists

The military’s media wing said that as a result of continuous intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance of the area, a location of terrorists was identified and security forces were “heli-inserted”.

While establishment of blocking positions to cut the escape routes was underway, the terrorists opened fire at the security forces.
It added that after heavy exchange of fire, the three terrorists were killed, while a cache of arms and ammunition, including IEDs, were recovered.

Separately in Lower Dir, the police and Counter Terrorism Department officials gunned down two Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan terrorists in the Talash area.

Lower Dir DPO Tariq Iqbal while addressing a new conference at his office, along with CTD SP Amjad Khan and Headquarters DSP Fakhar Alam, said that TTP terrorists Hafeezullah and Burhanuddin opened fire at a police party in the Talash area of Lower Dir in the wee hours of Thursday.

Upon receiving the information, he said, a heavy contingent of police and CTD reached the scene and started a search operation where the terrorists threw a hand grenade at the police. Luckily, the hand grenade failed to explode, after which the police surrounded the terrorists and the two terrorists were killed on the spot by police firing.

According to DPO Iqbal, both terrorists belonged to the TTP and were involved in the killing of traffic police officer Bakht Zameen at Talash Bazaar on April 4. “More than a hundred suspects involved in the murder of traffic police officer were arrested.”