ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's security forces killed 32 terrorists during coordinated intelligence-based operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan operations, the military said Wednesday, as the country's civilian leadership praised the operations and reaffirmed its commitment to continuing the campaign against armed groups.
The latest operations form part of Pakistan's broader counterterrorism campaign under Azm-e-Istehkam, an initiative approved by the Federal Apex Committee under the National Action Plan. The military says the campaign combines intelligence-based operations with targeted action against terorrist networks and their facilitators across the country.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces carried out multiple "intelligence-based area sanitization" and "targeted operations" during the "night of July 28-29" in Khyber district, where 24 terrorists identified as belonging to Fitna al Khawarij were killed.
In separate intelligence-based operations in southwestern Nushki district, security forces killed eight terrorists identified by the military as belonging to Fitna al Hindustan following "an intense engagement."
The military said weapons, ammunition and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were recovered and destroyed during the operations.
ISPR said clearance operations were continuing to eliminate any remaining terrorists in the affected areas.
"Relentless Counter Terrorism campaign under vision 'Azm-e-Istehkam'... will continue at full pace to wipe out menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country," the military said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended the officers and personnel involved in the operations, praising their professionalism following the killing of 24 Fitna al Khawarij in Khyber district and eight Fitna al Hindustan terrorists in Nushki.
"We will continue the fight against terrorism until the menace is completely eradicated from the country," the prime minister said.
He said security forces were carrying out effective operations against terrorists seeking to undermine peace in the country, adding:
"The entire nation, including myself, stands shoulder to shoulder with the Armed Forces of Pakistan in our unwavering resolve to defend the homeland."
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also praised the security forces for the successful operations, commending their bravery and professionalism.
He said the operations had thwarted the terrorists’ "malicious designs" and described the security forces' achievements in restoring peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan as "commendable."
"The terrorists of Fitna al Hindustan will find no place to hide," Naqvi said, adding that the nation stood "shoulder to shoulder with the security forces" in efforts to eliminate the group.
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