22 terrorists killed during sanitisation operation in North Waziristan: ISPR

Security forces killed 22 terrorists during a sanitisation operation conducted in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan district, the military’s media wing said on Tuesday.

A statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that based on credible intelligence regarding the presence of terrorists, security forces were conducting an operation in the general area of Shewa since Sunday during which, “after intense exchange of fire, 22 khwarij, belonging to Indian-sponsored Fitna al-Khawarij, have been sent to hell in the last 24 hours”.

The ISPR added that weapons and ammunition were recovered from, further saying that they were actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area.

“The sanitisation operation is currently in progress, and the area has been effectively cordoned off by security forces,” the statement added.

“Evidence further confirms that khwarij coerced and intimidated the local population, forcing their compliance to obtain safe passage using them as human shield. Such deplorable acts are highly condemnable and no justification can rationalise the endangerment of public lives,” the ISPR said.

It further said that the sanitisation operation continued to eliminate remaining terrorists in the area, as part of the relentless counter-terrorism campaign under the vision ‘Azm-e-Istehkam’, approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan.

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“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 also commended the professionalism of the security forces for their effective operation against terrorists.

He said the use of local civilians as human shields was evidence of the group’s brutality and disregard for human life.

The president also lauded the courage, bravery, and sacrifices of the personnel participating in counter-terrorism operations.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised security forces for their successful operation, saying, “security forces are achieving significant successes in the war against terrorism.”

He further added, “Our security forces stand like an iron wall against terrorism. We are committed to completely eradicating all forms of terrorism from the country.”

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also commended the professional capabilities of the security forces, saying they had thwarted the nefarious designs of the terrorists.

“The nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the security forces in the war against terrorism. The end of the terrorists of Fitna al-Khawarij is an ignominious death. With the support of the nation, the terrorists and facilitators of Fitna al-Khawarij are being eliminated.”

K-P has been battling terrorism since the United States’ ouster from Afghanistan, with terrorists often crossing the border to target police convoys and vehicles, resulting in the deaths of several officials and personnel.

The Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, in a report, said that 85 verified terrorist attacks were recorded in April, down from 146 in March, marking a 42% decline, while fatalities from such attacks fell from 106 to 60, extending a downward trajectory that had begun in the previous month.

The report attributed the improvement to Pakistan’s cross-border military campaign against terrorist groups and Taliban positions between February 26 and March 18, which later gave way to a suspension of hostilities and talks in Urumqi, China.

The operation, named Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, had been launched following unprovoked firing by the Afghan Taliban from across the border.

Despite the decline in attacks, overall combat-related deaths, including those from militant violence and security operations, stood at 291 in April.

Militants accounted for 224 of these deaths, representing 77% of the total.

The remaining casualties included 28 security personnel, 37 civilians and two members of pro-government peace committees.