ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s security forces killed two militants, including a suicide bomber, in the northwestern Bannu district, the military’s media wing said on Monday, vowing to eliminate militancy from the country.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the militants were killed during an intelligence-based operation in Bannu on Sunday. The militants, both belonging to the “Fitna-al-Khawarij,” a term the military uses for the Pakistani Taliban, were killed during an intense exchange of fire, it added.
“During conduct of the operation, after intense exchange of fire, two khwarij, belonging to Indian sponsored Fitna-al-Khwarij, including Kharji Ring leader Waheedullah alias Muktiar along with a suicide bomber were sent to hell,” the ISPR said.
Pakistan accuses India’s government of backing militants in its northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and southwestern Balochistan provinces, a charge that New Delhi has always denied.
The ISPR said a suicide jacket, weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants. It said Waheedullah was on Pakistan’s “most wanted terrorist list” for his role in killing security forces personnel and civilians.
The military’s media wing said Waheedullah was involved in the Feb. 21 killing of Lt. Col. Gul Faraz, who was killed in a suicide attack in Bannu district.
“The operation has indeed avenged the heinous act and has brought the main perpetrator to justice,” the ISPR said. “Timely action of security forces also averted a major catastrophe.”
It said that a sanitization operation is being carried out to eliminate any other militants in the area.
Pakistan has seen an increase in militant attacks in KP province bordering Afghanistan ever since the Afghan Taliban seized power in Kabul in August 2021.
Islamabad blames Kabul for not taking “decisive” action against militants on its soil that it alleges launch attacks against Pakistan. Afghanistan denies the allegations and says its soil is not used for attacks against any country.
