10 terrorists killed in two K-P engagements

RAWALPINDI:

Security forces killed 10 terrorists belonging to Fitna-Al-Khawarij in two separate engagements in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) on August 6, the military's media wing said on Friday.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), in the first encounter, a group of khawarij belonging to the "Indian Proxy, Fitna al-Khawarij" attempted to attack security forces' check posts in the general area of Azam Warsak in South Waziristan district.

Fitna al-Khawarij is the term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

"The attempt was effectively thwarted by own troops," the ISPR said.

"During ensuing fire exchange, eight khawarij were sent to hell through effective and precise engagements by own troops," it added.

In another encounter in Dir district, security forces "successfully neutralised" two more khawarij, according to the ISPR.

"Weapons and ammunition have also been recovered from the killed Indian sponsored khawarij, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area," the statement said.

The ISPR said sanitisation operations were being conducted to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area, as a relentless counterterrorism campaign under the vision "Azm e Istehkam" (as approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan) by Security Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies of Pakistan would continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country.

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended the security forces for eliminating 10 Indian-backed terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij in South Waziristan and Dir.

In separate statements, they said the nation stood with its brave security forces and law enforcement agencies and highly valued their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism.

The president said the nefarious designs of terrorist elements operating with Indian patronage would be thwarted at all costs.

In his message, the prime minister said the nation took pride in the professional competence, courage and sacrifices of the brave personnel of its security forces.

He said that under Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, operations against terrorists would continue with full determination until the complete eradication of terrorism.