11 terrorists neutralised in North Waziristan IBO

ISPR says forces engage multiple Khwarij locations in Datta Khel

RAWALPINDI:

Security forces killed eleven terrorists belonging to the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in North Waziristan district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Sunday, forces engaged multiple "Khwarij" locations in the general area of Datta Khel in North Waziristan within 48 hours.

"Following intense and fierce exchanges of fire, eleven khwarij belonging to Indian-sponsored Fitna-al-Khwarij were effectively neutralised.

"Weapons and ammunition have also been recovered from the killed Indian-sponsored Khwarij, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area," it added.

Khawarij and Fitna al-Khawarij are general terms used to refer to the TTP and splinter groups.

According to the ISPR, sanitization operations were underway to eliminate terrorists holed up in the area. "Relentless counter terrorism campaign under vision "Azm-e-Istehkam" will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign sponsored and supported terrorism from the country," it added.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday paid tribute to the security forces on the successful operation.

"The war against the monster of terrorism will continue until it is completely eradicated from the country," he said, according to an official statement issued by the Presidency.

PM Shehbaz said security forces exhibited professionalism while eliminating terrorists. He said the government was determined to completely eradicate terrorism from the country.

A day earlier, the K-P police, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), local peace committees, and security forces carried out an operation in the Barkzai Akhundkhel area of Bannu district's Miryan Tehsil and neutralized at least 25 terrorists including a TTP commander.

According to sources, the terrorists opened intense fire from multiple positions as soon as the operation began, triggering heavy clashes that continued for several hours.

Police and peace committee members put up strong resistance and effectively engaged the militants during the operation. During the exchange of fire, one police official, a retired Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, and two citizens were also martyred.

According to Muhammad Nauman Khattak, spokesperson for the Medical Teaching Institution (MTI), the bodies of a retired FC personnel and a police official were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital.

Several injured police officers were also brought to the hospital. Some of the injured are in critical condition, he added. K-P Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed said Bannu police demonstrated bravery and professionalism, inflicting significant damage on a major militant network.

On Saturday, Bannu police also successfully defused a 10-kg remote-controlled bomb planted near Gul Zaman Mosque in the Mamash Khel area along the Bannu–Miranshah road, averting a major disaster.

Security forces later cordoned off the area and intensified search operations, establishing strict checkpoints at all entry and exit points. The situation in the area remained tense, and fear and panic persisted among local residents, sources said.

Separately, at least nine terrorists were eliminated during a fierce gun battle on the outskirts of Quetta on Saturday. Four CTD personnel also laid down their lives during the fight.