A high-value target was among nine militants eliminated during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) carried out by security forces in Bajaur district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on the night of October 23-24. The operation was reported by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The ISPR stated that security forces acted on reliable intelligence concerning the presence of “kharijis” in the area, engaging them effectively during the operation. The firefight resulted in the deaths of nine militants, which included two suicide bombers and a key figure identified as Said Muhammad, also known as Qureshi Ustad, who was the leader of the khariji group.
In addition to the successful elimination of these militants, the operation yielded a significant cache of weapons, ammunition, and explosives. These items were linked to the militants, who had been involved in numerous terrorist activities targeting both security personnel and innocent civilians. After the operation, security forces initiated a sanitization process to ensure that any remaining terrorists in the vicinity were neutralized.
The ISPR reiterated its commitment to the fight against terrorism in Pakistan. Earlier this year, in July, the government officially labeled the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as Fitna al Khawarij and directed all government institutions to refer to those carrying out terrorist acts as “kharijis” or outcasts.
In recent months, there has been a disturbing rise in attacks against security forces and checkpoints, particularly in the provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This increase in violence followed the TTP’s decision to abandon a tenuous ceasefire agreement with the government in 2022, wherein they declared their intention to target security forces directly.
Earlier this month, security forces engaged in an IBO in North Waziristan, resulting in the death of two terrorists. Additionally, six soldiers were martyred in separate encounters, during which 12 terrorists were also killed in North and South Waziristan. The situation underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Pakistan in its efforts to combat terrorism and ensure the safety of its citizens.
