ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s security forces have killed thirteen Indian-backed militants in two separate intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military’s media wing said on Thursday.
According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operations were conducted on January 13 and 14 following reports of militant presence in Bannu and Kurram districts.
In the first operation, carried out in the Bannu district, security forces engaged militants after establishing their location. “During the conduct of operation, own troops effectively engaged the Khwarij location, and after an intense fire exchange, eight Khawarij were sent to hell,” the ISPR said.
Islamabad refers to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as “Khawarij,” drawing on a historical term for an extremist sect from early Islamic history that defied recognized authority and branded other Muslims as unbelievers.
In a separate intelligence-based operation in Kurram district, five Indian-backed militants were killed during an exchange of fire, the military said.
The ISPR said that sanitization operations were underway in both areas to eliminate any remaining militants.
“Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian-sponsored militants found in the area,” the statement said, adding that the armed forces’ “relentless counter-terrorism campaign under the vision ‘Azm-e-Istehkam’ will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country.”
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant violence in recent years, particularly in KP and Balochistan, following the TTP’s decision to end its ceasefire with the government in November 2022.
Earlier this month, the military said terrorist incidents increased sharply following the military conflict with India in May last year, stating that, in its assessment, India subsequently activated proxy groups operating from Afghanistan to destabilize Pakistan.
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