RAWALPINDI: Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Wednesday that security forces killed 13 terrorists during an Intelligence Based Operation (IBO) in South Waziristan district.
The army’s media wing said in a statement that the operation was carried out last night in Sararogha area of the district.
The ISPR said, “During the operation, its forces effectively engaged the Khawarij position, resulting in the death of thirteen Khawarij”.
It added that the slain terrorists were active in several terrorist attacks against the security forces as well as in the killing of innocent civilians.
The army’s media wing added that a sanitization operation is being carried out to eliminate any other outsiders found in the area, as Pakistan’s security forces are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country.
The provinces of KP and Balochistan – which border Afghanistan – have been witnessing terrorist attacks, particularly targeting law enforcement agencies and security forces.
On December 21, a group of terrorists attempted to attack a security forces check post in Makin tribal district of South Waziristan.
Pakistan Army successfully foiled the attack. However, 16 soldiers were martyred in this war.
According to ISPR, the attempt was effectively foiled by the troops and eight militants were killed in the exchange of fire.
Earlier in the day, another Pakistan Army soldier martyred himself and four terrorists were neutralized after security forces successfully foiled an infiltration bid along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Khyber district of KP. done
Since the return of the Taliban regime in neighboring Afghanistan, Pakistan has been reeling from an increase in terrorist attacks, and its two adjoining provinces have been the worst hit.
According to a report released by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), the third quarter (July-September) of 2024 witnessed a sharp rise in terrorist violence and casualties in counter-terrorism operations. Violence increased by 90 percent.
A total of 722 people were killed, including civilians, security personnel and illegals, while 615 others were injured in 328 cases assessed.
About 97 percent of these deaths occurred in KP and Balochistan – the highest percentage in a decade, and more than 92 percent of these incidents of terrorist attacks and security forces operations were recorded in the same provinces.
The total deaths from the three quarters of this year have now surpassed the total recorded for the whole of 2023. The number of deaths rose to at least 1,534 in the first three quarters from 1,523 in 2023.