Security forces kill 23 terrorists in K-P IBOs

RAWALPINDI:

At least 23 terrorists belonging Indian-sponsored Fitna-al-Khwarij were killed during a series of intelligence-based operations carried out by security forces over the past 48 hours in various areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the military's media wing said on Thursday.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces are continuing a series of intelligence-based operations in K-P in a determined effort to eliminate terrorist threats and dismantle militant networks based on credible intelligence leads, with operations expanded to hotspots including Datta Khel, Spinwam and Bannu.

It added that over the past 48 hours, troops effectively engaged multiple militant locations during these operations.

"Following intense and fierce exchanges of fire, twenty three more khwarij belonging to Indian-sponsored Fitna-al-Khwarij including kharji Ring leader Jan Meer alias Toor Saqib have been neutralised in the aforementioned areas, thereby giving a significant blow to the khwarij networks operating in these areas," it added.

The ISPR further said that ring leader Jan Meer alias Toor Saqib was highly wanted and carried a head money announced by the government for his involvement in multiple terrorist activities, including the killing of security personnel and civilians.

The statement said weapons, ammunition and a large cache of explosives, including improvised explosive devices, were recovered from the killed militants, adding that during sanitisation operations a network of underground tunnels and bunkers used by militants was also unearthed and destroyed.

"Sanitization operations continue to eliminate holed up khwarij from these areas, as relentless Counter Terrorism campaign under vision "Azm e Istehkam" (as approved by Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by Security Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign sponsored and supported terrorism from the country," the statement concluded.

The Apex Committee of the National Action Plan had approved Operation Azm-e-Istehkam in June 2024 to eliminate terrorism and extremism across the country, aiming to eradicate militancy decisively and comprehensively.

Quadcopter attack

Two schoolchildren were killed after a quadcopter drone, reportedly operated from an unknown location, struck a hilly area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Bajaur district on Thursday.

Local residents and official sources told Dawn that the fatal incident occurred in the Shahi Thangi area, located about 25 kilometres from Khar, the district headquarters of Bajaur, around noon.

They added that the children were returning home from school when they were hit, leaving them critically wounded.

The two boys, aged 10 and 12, were immediately taken by locals to the District Headquarters Hospital in Khar for treatment. However, both were pronounced dead upon arrival, they said.

(With additional input from our correspondents)