RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s security forces killed 22 terrorists during intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in the Khyber district of the country’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military’s media wing said in a statement on Thursday.
Pakistan’s military has intensified targeted operations across the country to wipe out terrorists from the country.
According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistan Army’s media and public relations wing, since December 14, 22 terrorists have been killed, while 18 others were injured during various intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Tirah valley of Khyber tribal district.
Numerous terrorist incidents were carried out in Tirah valley against security forces as well as innocent civilians, resulting in several casualties.
“In response to these heinous acts, security forces are conducting extensive intelligence-based operations in the area against the Khwarij [Taliban militants].”
The military’s media wing stated that intelligence-based operations will continue until peace in the area is restored and the miscreants are eliminated.
“The security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country,” ISPR resolved.
Terrorists’ sanctuaries in Afghanistan
It is an established fact that most terrorist attacks carried out inside Pakistan had links with the leadership of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), holed up in Afghanistan.
Pakistan has, time and again, contacted the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan regime to put a leash on elusive terrorists, but, so far, to no avail.
The issue has become a significant obstacle in bilateral relations between the two countries. Pakistan is disappointed by the Afghan Taliban’s hesitance to decisively take on the elusive TTP terrorists.
Although diplomatic channels between Pakistan and Afghanistan remain open, the challenge of addressing TTP sanctuaries on Afghan soil remains unresolved.
There is also mounting pressure on Afghanistan’s Taliban government regarding its handling of militancy.