ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s military said on Wednesday security forces killed 13 militants in two separate intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, as part of ongoing counterterrorism efforts amid sporadic attacks in the region.
The operations were carried out in Bara in Khyber district and in Bannu district following reports of militant presence, the military’s media wing said.
Such intelligence-based operations (IBOs) are routinely conducted to target suspected hideouts and prevent attacks, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where violence has increased in recent months.
The military refers to militant groups operating under Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as “Fitna Al Khwarij,” a term from early Islamic history used to describe an extremist sect that rebelled against authority.
“On reported presence of khwarij, an intelligence based operation was conducted by the Security Forces in general area Bara, Khyber District,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.
“During the conduct of operation, own troops effectively engaged khwarijs’ location and after an intense fire exchange, ten khwarij were sent to hell,” it added.
In a separate operation in Bannu district, three militants were “effectively neutralized” after an exchange of fire, the statement said.
Pakistan’s northwestern regions bordering Afghanistan have witnessed a rise in militant activity in recent years, with attacks on civilians, security forces and law enforcement officials prompting repeated IBOs across the province.
The military said “sanitization operations” were underway to clear the areas of any remaining militants and reiterated that its counterterrorism campaign under “Azm-e-Istehkam,” a national action plan approved by the government, would continue “at full pace.”
Pakistan has repeatedly accused militants operating in the region of being supported by hostile foreign elements, a claim that has been denied by its neighbors.
