Security | Pakistan

Security forces conducted two intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Balochistan’s Washuk and Mastung districts, killing 12 terrorists in total, the military’s media wing said on Thursday. In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the “high-tempo” operations were carried out as part of the ‘Radul Fitna’ counterterrorism campaign against Fitna-al-Hindustan in Balochistan. Balochistan-based terrorist groups have been designated as Fitna-al-Hindustan to highlight India’s alleged role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan. The ISPR said that on August 5, “[The] movement of six terrorists was picked up by the security forces in Washuk District of Balochistan. Own troops effectively engaged these terrorists. As a result of precise and skilful engagement, all six terrorists belonging to Indian proxy, Fitna-al-Hindustan were sent to hell.” The military’s media wing further said that during an operation in the Mastung district earlier today, six terrorists were “sent to hell after the...

Security sources say multiple hideouts were destroyed during intelligence-based operations under 'Azm-e-Istehkam'

Security forces have killed the mastermind behind the July 30 attack on a police checkpost in Hangu, which claimed the lives of nine police officials, a senior security official told Dawn on Sunday. Security sources identified the slain terrorist as Amir Mauviya, who they said was killed during an intelligence-based operation in Hangu’s Chapri Naryab. According to the sources, the slain terrorist held an important position among Fitna-al-Khawarij in Kurram, and was wanted in several other terrorism cases. Fitna-al-Khawarij is a term the state uses for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. The sources added that under Operation 11 Garaj, operations against terrorists had been intensified. The attack on the Khazina Banda checkpost had claimed the lives of nine police personnel, including a deputy superintendent of police, and left 28 injured. Police officials said an exchange of fire had broken out after the terrorists attacked the checkpost, and 15 terrorists were killed in retaliatory action. Security person...

Security forces have killed 32 terrorists during operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan over the last 24 hours, the military’s media affairs wing said in a statement released on Wednesday. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said “comprehensive joint operations” were carried out in various parts of the two provinces, in continuation of action against the “terrorists nexus of India-sponsored Fitna-al-Khawarij and Fitna-al-Hindustan”. The state uses the term Fitna-al-Khawarij for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and has designated Balochistan-based groups as Fitna-al-Hindustan to highlight India’s alleged role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan. ISPR said that the operations in KP and Balochistan were aimed at weeding out terrorists and their facilitators. Multiple “intelligence-based area sanitisation and targeted operations” were conducted in KP’s Khyber on July 28 and 29, during which 24 terrorists belonging to Fitna-al-Khawarij were killed, it said. Meanwhile, eight...

Security forces have so far killed 16 terrorists during the ongoing Operation Al-Azm in Balochistan, state media reported on Sunday, citing security forces. “Continuing intelligence-based operations under Operation Al-Azm against Fitna-al-Hindustan in Balochistan, security forces [have] killed 16 terrorists, destroyed multiple terrorist hideouts and recovered weapons and explosive materials,” state-run Pakistan TV reported. The government uses the term “Fitna al-Hindustan” for Balochistan-based groups to highlight India’s alleged role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan. Operation Al-Azm was launched after a shooting on a Karachi-bound coach coming from Quetta claimed three lives and injured five others on Wednesday. It takes place as Balochistan continues to face security challenges, with the military saying on Wednesday that 10 terrorists had been killed and two suicide bombers and their facilitator had been apprehended during operations in Balochistan’s Mastung and Surab in a span of 48 hours....

Security sources say forces destroyed multiple militant hideouts, recovered weapons and explosive material

Security forces foiled a suicide bombing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s South Waziristan district and killed four terrorists, including the suicide bomber, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Saturday. According to the military’s media wing, the terrorists attempted to ram an explosives-laden vehicle into a security forces checkpost in the district. However, “their nefarious designs were checked and decisively foiled by the vigilant and resolute response of security forces”. “The attackers explosive-laden vehicle was successfully engaged and destroyed outside the perimeters of post, killing one suicide bomber in it, which failed to cause any damage,” said the ISPR, adding that the objective was to breach the checkpost. The ISPR further said that the troops “engaged the remaining intruders, forcing three khwarij into a nearby compound, where they were later neutralised in a deliberate clearance operation carried out with precision, without any casualties on the security forces’ side”. Fi...

Security forces have killed four more terrorists during an operation in the Khad Kocha area of Balochistan’s Mastung district, the interior ministry and state broadcaster said on Friday. State broadcaster Radio Pakistan initially reported operation, saying that the terrorists belonged to Fitna-al-Hindustan — a term that the state uses for Balochistan-based groups to highlight India’s alleged role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan. It quoted security sources as saying that large quantities of weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain terrorists while several others, suspected of involvement in facilitating terrorism, were apprehended. The sources further said that search and clearance operations are ongoing in the area while security forces continue to maintain comprehensive surveillance, according to Radio Pakistan. Later, the operation and the fatalities among the terrorists were confirmed in an X post by the interior ministry, which said that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had laud...

Security sources say large quantity of weapons, ammunition recovered from them

Security forces kill 10 terrorists

KURRAM: Security forces launched an effective and full-scale retaliatory response to unprovoked firing by the Afghan Taliban at border posts in Kurram, security sources told Dawn on Sunday. The Afghan Taliban used heavy weapons, mortars and other arms to target border posts, after which Pakistani security forces responded immediately and forcefully, targeting Afghan Taliban border posts, mortar positions and defensive checkpoints with both light and heavy weapons, including artillery, security sources said. Pakistani security forces maintained complete control over border areas while delivering a strong response to the cross-border aggression, the security sources said, as a result of which the Afghan Taliban were forced to abandon multiple posts and flee. The border situation is being continuously monitored, and security forces are fully prepared and on alert to issue an immediate and decisive response to any act of provocation by the enemy, security sources said. On the night of February 26, following unpro...

Security forces have successfully foiled a major terrorist plot in Wana after carrying out a timely intelligence-based operation, preventing what officials described as a potentially devastating attack on civilians.

Security forces have killed 24 terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district and its adjoining areas in the last 24 hours, the military’s media affairs wing said in a statement on Friday afternoon. The statement by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that recently, there had been a “surge” in terrorist activities against police and suicide bombings in Bannu. In these incidents, the statement said, “Indian proxy Fitna-al-Khawarij targeted law enforcement agencies and innocent civilians”. Fitna-al-Khawarij is the term that the state uses for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban. “Security forces have initiated extensive joint intelligence-based operations to hunt the perpetrators of these heinous attacks and their support infrastructure. “Accordingly, in the last 24 hours, following fierce fire exchanges in Bannu district and adjoining areas, 24 khawarij belonging to Indian proxy Fitna-al-khawarij have been sent to hell,” the statement said. It added that weapons and ammunition were found in the possession ...

Security forces on Thursday killed three more terrorists in Balochistan as Operation Shaban continued in the province, state-run Radio Pakistan reported, citing security sources. The latest casualties have taken the total tally of terrorists killed during the operation to 91. State media further reported that 129 terrorists had been killed in Operation Shaban and other intelligence-based operations in the province since July 5. “Security sources say Operation Shaban will continue in Balochistan until the last terrorist is eliminated,” Radio Pakistan reported. The operation was launched after the martyrdom of 27 police personnel in an attack by terrorists at a police post in the Mangi dam area. Nine police personnel were killed on the spot, while 18 others were killed by the terrorists after being kidnapped. Troops from the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps (FC) and police are participating in the joint operation. Balochistan has been facing terrorism for a long time, with a monthly security assessment released by...

Security forces foiled on Thursday an attempted suicide attack targeting a military post in the Kari Kot area of Lower South Waziristan’s Wana, killing four terrorists, sources said. According to security sources, the terrorists tried to attack the security forces’ post using an explosives-laden vehicle. But the attempt was foiled as the threat was detected, and the suicide attacker was killed, they said. The sources said that three other terrorists were also killed in the action taken by security forces. They said the targeted post was being used to protect the local population and to prevent the movement of Fitna-al-Khawarij — a term that the state uses for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban — towards Wana Bazaar. The sources said that the terrorists wanted to destroy the post after their persistent failure in achieving their objectives. A search and clearance operation was launched in the area after their unsuccessful attempt to attack the post, they added. Last month, the district administrations of Upper South...

BANNU: Two separate attempts by terrorists to destroy civilian infrastructure in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district were foiled on Thursday. The terrorists targeted a government girls’ school and a bridge in the district. According to local sources, explosives planted at the school partially damaged the building. Security forces responded promptly and prevented what could have been a major incident. Terrorists also planted explosives under a bridge in an attempt to destroy it and disrupt movement in the area. According to officials, a barrel filled with explosives was placed beneath the bridge. Upon receiving information about the device, security forces reached the site, where a bomb disposal unit successfully defused it. Security forces said around 50kg of explosives had been planted beneath the bridge. They added that investigations into both incidents had been launched, while law enforcement agencies had intensified search operations and intelligence-based efforts in the region to apprehend those involve...

Security forces killed four terrorists in two separate intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military’s media wing said on Thursday. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the four terrorists killed during the operations belonged to Fitna Al Khawarij, referring to the term used by the state to designate members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). “On [the] reported presence of khwarij, an intelligence-based operation (IBO) was conducted by security forces in Dera Ismail Khan district,” ISPR said in a statement. “During [the] conduct of the operation, own troops effectively engaged [the] khwarij location and after [an] intense exchange of fire, two khwarij … were sent to hell.” ISPR added that another IBO was conducted in the Mohmand district of the province. “In [the] ensuing skillful engagement, two more khwarij were effectively neutralised,” the statement added. It further said weapons and ammunition were recovered from the dead terrorists, who remained ac...

Security forces killed 17 terrorists during intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in different districts of Balochistan following the suicide car bomb attack against a shuttle train in Quetta, said a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Tuesday. At least 14 people were killed and 20 others were injured in the incident, which took place on May 24. The IBOs were conducted in the districts of Mastung, Nushki, Khuzdar and Kech. The military’s media wing added that multiple terrorist locations were targeted by security personnel during these operations. “Following intense and fierce exchanges of fire, 17 terrorists belonging to Indian-sponsored Fitna al Hindustan have been sent to hell, giving a significant blow to the terrorist networks operating in these areas,” the statement read. The state has designated Balochistan-based terrorist groups as Fitna-al-Hindustan to highlight India’s alleged role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan. ISPR added that weapons, ammunition an...

Security forces foiled a suicide attack by Fitna al Khawarij on a military post near Miranshah in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan district, security sources said on Tuesday. Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. As per security sources, the terrorists attempted to ram an explosive-laden vehicle into the post. However, security forces took timely action and destroyed the vehicle before it could reach the target, they said. During the operation, four terrorists were killed, and security forces were on high alert, due to which the attack was thwarted. Security sources further stated that the terrorists attempted the attack fearing the success of operations around Miranshah over the past few days, adding that over 20 terrorists have been killed in these operations so far. According to security sources, further operations were underway in the area, and the perpetrators of the attack and their facilitators would be brought to justice. Sec...

Security forces have killed 11 terrorists in the Datta Khel area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan district during the last 48 hours, the military’s media affairs wing said on Sunday. A statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said security forces had “engaged multiple” terrorist locations as part of a series of intelligence-based operations in the area. “Following intense and fierce exchanges of fire, eleven khawarij belonging to India-sponsored Fitna-al-Khawarij were effectively neutralised,” the statement said. Fitna-al-Khawarij is a term that the state uses for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. According to ISPR, weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain terrorists, who “remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area”. “Sanitisation operations continue to eliminate holed up khawarij from these areas, as a relentless counter-terrorism campaign under the vision ‘Azm-i-Istehkam’ (as approved by Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by s...