74 terrorists killed in operations across KP, Balochistan: ISPR

ISLAMABAD: Security forces have killed 74 terrorists in separate intelligence-based operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, the military’s media wing said on Friday, as counterterrorism operations continue in both provinces.

According to two statements issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on November 13, security forces killed 43 terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) over the past 48 hours, while another 31 were killed in operations under way in Balochistan since November 3.

The ISPR said the operations targeted militants belonging to what it describeds as the Indian-sponsored groups Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan.

43 terrorists killed in KP operations

In KP, security forces expanded intelligence-based operations to Mir Ali and Orakzai, targeting several militant locations over the past two days.

The ISPR said 35 terrorists were killed in Mir Ali following intense exchanges of fire, while another eight were killed in Orakzai. Security personnel also recovered large quantities of weapons, ammunition and explosives, including homemade explosives and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

The military said the recoveries had disrupted suspected plans to carry out terrorist activities in the region. It added that clearance operations were continuing to locate and eliminate any remaining militants in the affected areas.

31 terrorists killed in Balochistan since November 3

Separately, the ISPR said security forces had been conducting a comprehensive intelligence-based clearance operation in the Kurram area of Quetta district in Balochistan since November 3.

According to the statement, troops targeted multiple militant hideouts during a series of engagements, killing 31 terrorists allegedly linked to the ‘Indian-backed groups’.

Weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the targeted locations, the military said.

The ISPR reiterated that security forces and law enforcement agencies would continue counterterrorism operations under Azm-e-Istehkam, the national counterterrorism initiative approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan.

The military said operations would continue against militant networks and what it described as foreign-sponsored terrorism across the country.