Security forces eliminate 31 Khawarij in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

RAWALPINDI: Security forces killed 31 Indian-sponsored Khawarij in two separate intelligence-based operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Monday, just days after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Islamabad had told Kabul to choose between Pakistan or the terrorists operating from its soil.

The latest intelligence-based operations were carried out in Bannu and Lakki Marwat — two districts in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the region which is worst hit by the former PTI government’s decision to resettle the TTP members in Pakistan.

Read more: Having the cup of tea in Kabul proved to be very costly: Dar

About the latest success against the terrorists, the ISPR said security forces acted against the terrorists backed by India — Fitna al Khawarij — on September 13 and 14 [Saturday and Sunday].

Meanwhile, the two terms Fitna al Khawarij and Fitna al Hindustan are used to refer to the terrorists groups which India is sponsoring against Pakistan.

So Fitna al Khawarij denotes groups like TTP while Fitna al Hindustan covers the likes of BLA.

Read more: Four Indian-sponsored terrorists neutralised in Balochistan

According to the ISPR, security forces came into action after receiving information about the presence of Khawarij in Bannu and Lakki Marwat, where they effectively engaged the terrorists.

The gun battles resulted in the killing of 17 in Bannu and another 14 in Lakki Marwat.

Read more: SCO committed to combating terrorism, separatism, extremism

PAKISTAN OR KHAWARIJ

Last week, Shehbaz reached Bannu to attend the funeral of 12 military men martyred in an dastardly terrorist attack in South Waziristan.

Read more: Naqvi to Gandapur: Will use all resources against terrorists

As the prime minister talked about making it clear to the Afghan Taliban to make a choice, he again highlighted the fact that India was sponsoring different terrorist groups operating in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.