Security forces kill 17 Indian-sponsored Khawarij in KP

ISLAMABAD: At least 17 Indian-sponsored Khawarij were killed in a joint operation by security forces and police along the border of Karak and Lakki Marwat districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military’s media wing said on Saturday.

Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from their possession, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The ISPR said that security forces launched an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Lakki Marwat district last night after receiving reports about the presence of Indian-backed khawarij.

Security forces and police also conducted an IBO against the Khawarij in the Karak’s Darsha Khel area within the jurisdiction of Shah Saleem police station.

The operation was carried out on information regarding the presence of 22 militants in the area bordering Lakki Marwat and Karak, reportedly linked with the Mullah Nazir group. The group was surrounded in Darsha Khel in a carefully planned move.

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The ISPR spokesperson said the khawarij were encircled with great skill and targeted, resulting in the killing of 17. Weapons and explosives were also seized.

The slain khawarij, the ISPR added, had been involved in multiple terror attacks against security forces and the killing of innocent civilians.

The spokesperson further said that operations were ongoing to eliminate any remaining Indian-sponsored khawarij in the region.

The ISPR said that security forces were determined to root out the menace of terrorism from the country.

PM vows eradication of terrorism

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the security forces for killing 17 Khawarij and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured personnel.

He said that the khawarij’s nefarious designs were thwarted due to the professional expertise and timely action of the security forces.

He reaffirmed that the government and security institutions were committed to completely eliminating terrorism, vowing that the scourge would soon be eradicated from its roots.

On September 21, security forces killed seven Khawarij — including two suicide bombers — in an operation in the Kalachi area of Dera Ismail Khan.

Earlier, on September 9 and 10, 19 Khawarij were killed by security forces in a series of IBOs in North Waziristan, Mohmand and Bannu districts.