13 terrorists killed in two K-P IBOs: ISPR

RAWALPINDI:

Security forces have killed 13 terrorists belonging to the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in two separate intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's Kurram and Bannu districts, the military's media wing said on Thursday.

A statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the operations were conducted on January 13-14, during which "Indian Proxy Fitna-al-Khawarij" were killed.

Fitna al-Khawarij is a term designated for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban.

"On reported presence of khwarij, an intelligence based operation was conducted by the security forces in Bannu district. During the conduct of operation, own troops effectively engaged the khwarij location and after an intense fire exchange, eight khwarij were sent to hell," the press release said, adding that a separate operation in Kurram led to the elimination of five more terrorists.

The ISPR said that sanitisation operations were being conducted to eliminate any other "Indian-sponsored kharji" found in the area as part of the "relentless counter terrorism campaign" under the Azm-e-Istehkam vision, adding that it would continue at full pace to wipe out the "menace of foreign sponsored and supported terrorism" from the country.

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to security forces for eliminating Indian-backed Khawarij in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In a post on X, he said, "War against terrorism caused by external interference will continue."

"War against terrorism will continue until it is completely eradicated from the country," he added.

Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also commended the security forces for successfully conducting the operations, adding that the security forces were achieving major successes against terrorism under the Azm-e-Istehkam strategy.

"The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with Pakistan's armed forces in this war against terrorism," the prime minister said, reaffirming the government's resolve to completely eliminate all forms of terrorism from the country.