RAWALPINDI: Security forces have killed 23 India-sponsored terrorists, including a ring leader, during intelligence-based operations in different areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military’s media wing said on Thursday.
According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations, the operations were conducted over the past 48 hours in Datta Khel, Spinwam and Bannu, where security forces engaged multiple militant hideouts.
The military said that all 23 terrorists, referred to as Fitna al-Khwarij, were killed in intense exchanges of fire during the series of coordinated operations.
Among those killed was a ring leader identified as Jan Meer alias Toor Saqib, who was described as highly wanted and carrying a government-announced bounty for his involvement in multiple terrorist activities, including attacks on security forces and civilians.
ISPR said the elimination of the ring leader is expected to deal a significant blow to militant networks operating in the region.
During follow-up sanitisation operations, security forces discovered and destroyed underground tunnels and bunkers used by militants for planning and executing attacks.
A large cache of weapons, ammunition, explosives and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) was also recovered from the killed terrorists, the statement added.
The military further said that sanitisation operations are continuing to eliminate any remaining militants hiding in the area.
It reiterated that the counterterrorism campaign under the national vision “Azm-e-Istehkam” will continue at full pace to eliminate foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country.
