President, PM, Naqvi praise security forces, say entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with them
Security forces, in continuation of a series of intelligence-based operations (IBOs), engaged multiple locations of terrorists during operations in the general area of Miran Shah and its surroundings in North Waziristan district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), the military’s media wing said on Saturday.
According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), following a fierce exchange of fire in the last 72 hours, 21 more khawarij belonging to Indian-sponsored Fitna-al-Khawarij, including four kharji ring leaders (Kharji Khalid Raza alias Salar, Kharji Muftoon, Kharji Musa and Kharji Imran alias Ayan), were killed, thereby causing a significant blow to the khawarij’s network operating in the area.
The state uses the term Fitna al-Khawarij to refer to terrorists affiliated with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The military’s media wing said, “Killed kharji ring leaders were highly wanted for their involvement in numerous terrorist activities, including the killing of security forces personnel and innocent civilians”.
“So far, in total, 48 khawarij were killed in these highly skilful and precise operations,” ISPR said.
“Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed Indian sponsored khawarij, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities and the killing of innocent civilians,” the statement added.
“Sanitisation operations will continue to eliminate remaining holed-up khawarij from these areas, as a relentless Counter Terrorism campaign under vision “Azm e Istehkam” (as approved by Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by Security Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign sponsored and supported terrorism from the country”, the statement concluded.
Read: Security forces kill 27 terrorists in North Waziristan IBOs
President Asif Ali Zardari praised the security forces for their successful operations against Fitna al-Khawarij in North Waziristan, according to the statement released by the president’s media wing.
The president commended the professionalism and bravery of the security forces for eliminating multiple terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij.
The elimination of key leaders of the Indian-sponsored Fitna al-Khawarij is a significant success against the terrorist network, the president said.
The nation stands shoulder to shoulder with its brave security forces, he concluded.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the security forces for eliminating 21 terrorists belonging to the Indian-backed Fitna al-Khawarij during a security operation in Miran Shah and surrounding areas of North Waziristan, according to the statement released by the prime minister’s office (PMO).
The security forces, in a successful operation, sent multiple terrorists, including four highly wanted Khariji ringleaders, to their deaths, the prime minister said.
Under the vision of Azm-e-Istehkam, the brave security forces are achieving major successes in the fight against terrorism, he said.
Our war against terrorists will continue until terrorism is completely eradicated from the country, he concluded.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi paid tribute to the security forces for their successful operation against Indian-sponsored terrorists in Miran Shah. He commended the professionalism of the security forces for eliminating 21 Khawarij.
“Salute to the brave personnel of the security forces who thwarted the nefarious designs of the Khawarij,” Naqvi said.
“With the support of the nation, terrorists and their facilitators are being eliminated,” he added.
“The nation is proud of the brave soldiers of the security forces and stands shoulder to shoulder with the security forces in the fight against terrorism,” he concluded.
Read more: Suicide, IED attacks leave 3 dead in K-P
On Friday, at least three people, including an 8-year-old girl, were killed and several others injured in separate explosion incidents in K-P’s Lakki Marwat and Bajaur districts.
In Lakki Marwat, a suicide blast near a mosque in the remote area of Khera Khel Pakka claimed two lives and left multiple people wounded.
According to police and rescue officials, the explosion occurred close to a mosque when a large number of worshippers had gathered for Friday prayers.
In a separate incident in Bajaur district, a 60-year-old man was killed in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in the Targao Barang area.
