Three terrorists killed in Dera Ismail Khan IBO: state media

KHYBER-PAKHTUNKHAWA:

Security forces killed three terrorists during an Intelligence-Based Operation (IBO) in Dera Ismail Khan, Radio Pakistan reported on Monday, citing security sources.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif separately paid tribute to the security forces following the operation, which came a day after eight terrorists, including three key commanders, were killed in another IBO in the district.

President Zardari said effective operations by security forces were playing an important role in dismantling terrorist networks and vowed that the designs of militant elements operating with external support would be thwarted.

He said operations against Fitna al-Khawarij under the Azm-e-Istehkam framework would continue until terrorism was eliminated, according to remarks carried by state media.

The term Fitna al-Khawarij is used by the state for terrorists affiliated with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Read also: Pakistan launches ‘Operation Azm-e-Istehkam’ to eradicate terrorism

PM Shehbaz, meanwhile, said successful operations against Fitna al-Khawarij were dealing a “heavy blow” to terrorist networks.

He said counterterrorism operations would continue until the menace was eradicated, adding that security forces remained determined to purge Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the rest of the country of terrorism.

The prime minister reiterated that the state remained steadfast in its resolve to eliminate Fitna al-Khawarij.

Dera Ismail Khan has witnessed repeated terrorist violence as well as counterterrorism operations in recent months.

On September 26, a suicide bomber targeted a joint Customs, police and Excise checkpoint in the district’s Darazinda tehsil, killing 13 people, including two women, a young girl and a Customs inspector. Twenty-six others were reported injured.

Security forces have stepped up intelligence-based operations across K-P amid a resurgence in terrorist activity, particularly in districts bordering or close to Afghanistan.

In September, the military said 21 terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij were killed in multiple engagements across K-P between September 3 and 5, including terrorists attempting to infiltrate across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Islamabad has repeatedly maintained that militant groups, particularly the TTP, operate from sanctuaries inside Afghanistan and has urged the Afghan Taliban authorities to prevent their territory from being used for attacks against Pakistan.