Security forces kill over 20 terrorists during multiple engagements in KP: ISPR

Security forces killed over 20 terrorists during multiple engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa between September 3 and 5, the military’s media affairs wing said on Sunday. According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the slain terrorists were sponsored by India and belonged to Fitna-al-Khawarij — a term the state uses for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The ISPR statement mentioned an engagement in KP’s North Waziristan on the night between August 31 and September 1. Security forces had initially killed 15 terrorists who were trying to infiltrate into Pakistan through its border with Afghanistan at the time. Following that, 10 more terrorists holed up in the area were killed, the statement said, adding that a total of 25 terrorists trying to enter Pakistan had been killed in that event. In another encounter in North Waziristan, movement of another group of terrorists along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border was picked up by the security forces. “Own troops effectively engaged this group of khawarij. As a result of precise and skillful engagement, seven khawarij were neutralised, ” the ISPR statement said. Separately, four more terrorists were killed in two different encounters in Kohat and Dera Ismail Khel during joint operations, according to ISPR. It said, “These repeated incidents along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border have once again vindicated Pakistan’s persistent stance regarding the abject failure of the Afghan Taliban regime to deny the use of Afghan soil to the terrorist organisation, under their patronage, for cross-border terrorism. “The Afghan Taliban regime has consistently failed to ensure effective border management and honour its international counter-terrorism obligations. ” The statement added that security forces “remain resolute and unwavering in their commitment to defend the nation’s frontiers”. “Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other India-sponsored kharji found in the area as relentless counter-terrorism campaign under the vision ‘Azm-i-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 read.

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