10 terrorists neutralised in Jandola: ISPR

President, PM laud security forces for repelling attack on check post

RAWALPINDI:

Security forces on Thursday neutralised 10 terrorists, including a suicide bomber, who attempted to attack a check post in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's (K-P) Jandola area, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

The statement noted that the attempt took place in the Jandola area, located "on the seam of South Waziristan and Tank districts," on March 13.

K-P faces persistent security challenges due to its proximity with Afghanistan, where terrorist groups reportedly operate with impunity, allowing them to orchestrate attacks in side Pakistan.

The ISPR statement said the attempt to enter the check post was "effectively thwarted" by troops, forcing the "khwarji" to ram an explosive-laden vehicle into the perimeter wall.

The military uses the term "khwarji" for terrorists from the outlawed umbrella of violent groups which have found safe havens in Afghanistan following their rout from the erstwhile tribal belt in the 2014 military operation codenamed Zarb-e-Azb.

"Own troops fought bravely, effectively engaged the assailant and after an intense fire exchange all ten khwarij including a suicide bomber were sent to hell, outside the perimeter wall of the post," the ISPR statement said.

It added that a sanitisation operation was being conducted to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area. "Security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country," the ISPR said.

President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailed the security forces for repelling the attack on the Jandola check post and eliminating all 10 terrorists.

"The brave armed forces are carrying out successful operations for eradicating Fitna al-Khawarij," the president said in a statement.

He expressed determination to continue operations until the complete elimination of terrorism.

"The whole nation stands with the security forces in the war against terrorism," the statement added.

In a separate statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appreciated the security forces for foiling the terrorist attack on the check post in Jandola.

"The government will continue to foil designs of the terrorists who are trying to create unrest in the country," the prime minister said.

"The war against menace of terrorism will continue until its complete elimination from the country, he added.

"The whole nation stands with the armed forces of Pakistan in their determination to wipe out terrorism from the country."