Five militants killed in North Waziristan operation, security sources say

Security forces killed five militants and wounded two others in an intelligence-based operation in North Waziristan, security sources said on Tuesday.

The sources said the operation followed the monitoring of militants’ movements, and that their hideouts in North Waziristan and surrounding areas were targeted. They described the militants as linked to what the state calls Fitna al-Khawarij, the term for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and affiliated groups.

The sources said operations against militant elements would continue under the government’s Azm-i-Istehkam campaign, which aims to eliminate terrorism and establish lasting peace. There was no independent confirmation of the casualty figures.

Government reaction

President Asif Ali Zardari praised the security forces for the operation, saying timely action was helping thwart the “nefarious designs” of militants. He said operations would continue until terrorism was eliminated.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also commended the forces for what he called a timely and decisive operation, saying it had foiled the militants’ plans. He said eliminating terrorism and ensuring lasting peace under Azm-i-Istehkam remained the government’s top priority.