16 khwarij killed, two soldiers martyred in North Waziristan operations

RAWALPINDI: Sixteen terrorists belonging to the Indian-sponsored Fitna-al-Khwarij were killed during security forces’ intelligence-based operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while two Pakistan Army soldiers embraced martyrdom, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Saturday.

According to the military’s media wing, security forces, as part of ongoing intelligence-based operations, engaged multiple Khwarij locations in the general areas of Mir Ali, Datta Khel and surrounding areas of North Waziristan district.

Following fierce fire exchanges over the past 12 hours, 12 khwarijs, including two Afghan nationals, were killed in Ali Khel, while two khwarijs each were neutralised in Mir Ali and Datta Khel.

The ISPR said the operations had dealt a significant blow to the militant network operating in the area.

However, during the engagements, two Pakistan Army personnel embraced martyrdom while fighting gallantly against the militants.

The martyrs were identified as Havildar Asmat Ali, 43, a resident of Swabi district, and Naik Aftab Ali, 32, from Mardan district.

According to the ISPR, weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the terrorists killed during the operations. The military’s media wing said the militants had been involved in numerous terrorist activities, including attacks resulting in the deaths of innocent civilians.

The ISPR said sanitisation operations were continuing to eliminate any remaining militants hiding in the area.

It added that the counterterrorism campaign under the vision of “Azm-e-Istehkam”, approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, would continue at full pace to eliminate foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country.

The military’s media wing said the sacrifices of security personnel further strengthened the nation’s resolve to eradicate terrorism.

A day earlier, the ISPR reported that at least 74 militants had been killed during security forces’ operations in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Read More: 74 khwarij killed in security operations in Quetta and KP: ISPR

According to the military’s media wing, security forces have been conducting comprehensive intelligence-based area sanitisation operations in the Kurram area of Quetta district, Balochistan, since November 3, targeting elements of the Indian-backed Fitna-al-Khwarij and Fitna-al-Hindustan.

During the operations, multiple terrorist hideouts were effectively engaged and thirty one Indian sponsored khwarij were killed. Weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the Khwariji locations.