PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security forces said on Saturday they killed 48 militants in a series of intelligence-based operations in North Waziristan, as counterterrorism police in Sindh arrested a suspected supplier of drones and electronic components for the Pakistani Taliban.
The developments come amid a surge in militant violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, where the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has increasingly employed sophisticated weapons and tactics, including quadcopter attacks targeting police, security forces and civilians.
Pakistan says militant groups operate from sanctuaries in Afghanistan, a charge denied by Kabul, as the two neighbors grapple with sporadic cross-border strikes, border clashes and competing accusations over militancy.
Islamabad has intensified targeted counterterrorism operations in its western regions in response to the violence and has repeatedly accused India of backing “Fitna Al-Khwarij,” the state’s term for the TTP and its militants, an allegation New Delhi denies.
“Following fierce fire exchanges, in last seventy two hours, twenty one more khwarij belonging to Indian-sponsored Fitna-al-Khwarij including four kharji Ring leaders ... have been sent to hell,” the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement.
“Killed Kharji Ring leaders were highly wanted for their involvement in numerous terrorist activities including killing of security forces personnel and innocent civilians,” it added. “So far, in total, forty eight khwarij have been killed in these highly skillful and precise operations.”
The term “khwarij,” which originates from early Islamic history, is used by Pakistani authorities for TTP militants.
ISPR said the killing of the four slain militant commanders had dealt a significant blow to the TTP network operating in the area.
It added that weapons and ammunition had also been recovered from the killed militants, who were actively involved in numerous violent activities and the killing of civilians.
DRONE SUPPLY NETWORK
In a separate statement, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Sindh said it had arrested a key militant operative allegedly involved in procuring advanced drones, electronic components and explosive-making materials for the TTP.
CTD said the suspect, identified as Tahir, was linked to his brother Talal alias Zaid Baloch, whom it described as an active TTP member based in Afghanistan and wanted by authorities.
According to CTD, the suspect was responsible for procuring “electronics equipment, advanced drones, mobile phone batteries, chips, inverters and other devices” for the TTP and purchased drone motors, frames, propellers, batteries and controller boards from markets in Karachi and online platforms.
The statement said he procured the equipment from electronic markets in Karachi, adding that evidence and the suspect’s confession showed it was intended for use in improvised explosive devices, suicide jackets and drone attacks.
Authorities said they recovered two kilograms of explosive material, a drone with a battery and a remote control from the suspect.
The CTD said further investigations and follow-up operations were underway based on information obtained during the arrest.
