Security forces killed seven terrorists linked to the Indian proxy Fitna al Khwarij during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Balochistan’s Sherani district earlier this week, the military’s media wing said on Thursday.
According to a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operation was conducted on October 1 after reports surfaced regarding the presence of Indian-sponsored terrorists in the area.
The ISPR said the forces effectively engaged the terrorists’ hideout, and after an intense exchange of fire, “seven Indian-sponsored terrorists were sent to hell”.
Fitna al Khawarij is a term coined by the state for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The military added that weapons, ammunition, and explosives were recovered from the militants, who were “actively involved in numerous terrorist activities” in the region.
A sanitisation operation is currently underway to clear the area of any remaining threats, said the ISPR, reaffirming the Pakistan Armed Forces’ resolve to wipe out the menace of India-sponsored terrorism and bring its perpetrators to justice.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement quoting Shehbaz Sharif as lauding the security forces for killing seven Fitna al Khwarij terrorists in Balochistan’s Sherani district.
Read: Security forces kill 10 terrorists in Quetta: IBO
“Those who had targeted innocent civilians and caused damage to their lives and property were given a decisive defeat,” the statement quoted the premier as saying.
He reaffirmed that the government and armed forces were determined to “root out the scourge of terrorism completely,” adding that “elements seeking to undermine Pakistan’s sovereignty will never be allowed to succeed”.
Earlier, on September 27, security forces had killed 17 terrorists of Fitna al Khwarij in an operation in Lakki Marwat district. The military said those fighters were also linked to multiple terrorist activities, while a sanitisation operation was carried out after the raid.
Read More: Three India-backed terrorists killed, four disguised as women arrested in Balochistan
In a separate operation weeks earlier, on, troops had eliminated four terrorists belonging to Fitna al Hindustan in Mastung, Balochistan, recovering arms and explosives from their hideout.
After the Lakki Marwat operation, Shehbaz praised the “professional skill and timely action” of the forces, saying their efforts had foiled the malicious designs of the Khawarij.
The prime minister also warned Kabul against allowing its soil to be used for militancy, stressing that Afghanistan must make a clear choice between maintaining ties with Pakistan or harbouring the Khawarij.
He said masterminds and facilitators of attacks in Pakistan were operating from Afghan soil with Indian backing, vowing a befitting response.
