15 infiltrators killed along Afghan border

ISPR says operation lasted 36 hours

RAWALPINDI:

Security forces have killed 15 terrorists, who were trying to infiltrate through the Pakistan-Afghanistan border opposite North Waziristan District, the military's media wing said on Thursday, adding that the engagement lasted for 36 hours.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces detected the "movement of a group of khawarij belonging to Indian-sponsored Fitna Al Khawarij during the night of August 31 and September 1."

Fitna al-Khawarij is the state-designated term for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

"Own troops responded professionally and with patience to engage them successfully," the statement said.

The ISPR further added that as a result of "precise and skillful engagement" that lasted for 36 hours, 15 terrorists were killed.

During the follow-up sanitisation operation, a significant quantity of weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorists, which ISPR said had "further exposed the nefarious designs of Khawarij and their facilitators" seeking to "disrupt peace and stability in the country".

"This incident along Pakistan-Afghanistan border once again vindicates Pakistan's persistent stance regarding the abject failure of the Afghan Taliban Regime to deny the use of Afghan soil to the terrorist organisation, under their patronage, for cross-border terrorism," the statement added.

The ISPR further stated that the Afghan Taliban regime "has consistently failed to ensure effective border management and honour its international obligations."

Pakistan has repeatedly accused terrorist groups based in Afghanistan of carrying out attacks inside the country and demanded that Kabul take action against them. The Afghan Taliban government has rejected accusations that it allows its territory to be used for attacks against Pakistan.

Pakistan's security forces " remain resolute and unwavering in their commitment" to protecting the country's borders, it added.

"Sanitisation operation is being conducted to eliminate any other Indian sponsored Kharji found in the area as relentless Counter Terrorism campaign under the 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.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the security forces for thwarting an infiltration attempt from the Pak-Afghan border near North Waziristan and killing 15 Khawarij terrorists belonging to Fitna al Hindustan.

In separate statements, the president and the prime minister commended the security forces for foiling the nefarious designs of the Fitna al Khawarij terrorists through their professional capabilities, patience and valour.

President Asif Ali Zardari said that terrorist elements backed by external forces would never be allowed to create unrest in the country.

"The commitment of the security forces to defending the country's borders and safeguarding peace and stability is commendable," the president.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed the resolve to continue the "Azm-e-Istehkam" campaign with full force to uproot the menace of terrorism from the country.

"The entire nation takes pride in its brave armed forces, which are determined to defend the country's borders and ensure national security," he remarked.