ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s military, Friday, highlighting the continued battle of armed forces against terrorism, said a record high number of terrorists were killed in the outgoing year.
Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry addressing the media at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi said nearly 400 Pakistani soldiers embraced martyrdom in counter-terrorism operations this year.
He noted the security forces had conducted 59,775 intelligence-based operations this year, during which 925 militants had been killed and hundreds of others arrested.
“Over the last five years, this is the highest number of terrorists killed in a single year,” Chaudhry said.
Long war against terrorism
“Pakistan has fought a long war against terrorism and is still fighting. It has rendered highly valued sacrifices in this fight,” he said.
He added that armed forces have rendered matchless sacrifices in the war against terrorism adding that the entire nation pays tribute to the martyrs of Pakistan armed forces and law enforcement agencies.
DG ISPR said that the Pakistan Army and other law enforcement agencies, including police, have been conducting more than 169 counter-terrorism operations daily.
He said that the armed forces have successfully thwarted numerous terrorist plots as well. He said during various operations, a significant quantity of arms was recovered from terrorist hideouts.
Additionally, 73 high-value targets, including some of the most-wanted terrorists, were killed during the operations, DG ISPR said, adding that among those targeted was the leader of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Lt Gen Chaudhry said that two suicide bombers were also arrested, while 14 wanted terrorists surrendered to the authorities. He said 383 brave officers and soldiers embraced martyrdom during these counter-terrorism operations.
DG ISPR on Afghanistan
DG ISPR said that terrorist outfits were being provided “sanctuaries, support, and are allowed unrestrained activities on Afghan territory”.
“All evidence related to terrorism can be traced back to the safe havens enjoyed by terrorists in Afghanistan. The army chief has a clear and straight-forward stance on this: that Pakistan has reservations on banned organsiations’ sanctuaries, support, and unrestrained activities on Afghan territory,” he asserted.
“Pakistan will leave no stone unturned to eliminate the terrorist networks and keep our citizens safe.”
Islamabad has repeatedly demanded Kabul to take action against hideouts of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on its soil.
“Everyone knows that Pakistan has wholeheartedly tried for peacekeeping in Afghanistan. Pakistan has played the most important role in the stability of Afghanistan,” Gen Chaudhry said, noting that Pakistan has hosted Afghan refugees for a long time.
“Pakistan has, on a state level, pointed out to the Afghan interim government that Fitna al Khawarij (TTP) and various other terrorists have continued terrorist activities in Pakistan using Afghan soil,” he recalled.
Counterterrorism efforts in Balochistan
Speaking on action taken against terrorism in Balochistan, the DG ISPR said that some high-value targets were eliminated in the region. He said that “Baloch terrorists’ most-wanted leaders were also sent to hell”.
DG ISPR said that two suicide bombers-to-be — Insafullah urf Talha and Roohullah hailing from Afghanistan were arrested by security forces and “their evil intentions were thwarted”.
He noted that 10 suicide jackets and more than 250kg of explosives and weapons were recovered from the two.
Crackdown against smuggling
He said the crackdown against smuggling, power theft, narcotics, and hoarding is also continuing on the government’s directives. He added that this strategy has significantly reduced the illegal spectrum.
He stated that 72% of the tribal districts have been cleared of minefields, with significant progress made in the recovery of mines and unexploded ordnance.
“After the imposition of the One Document Regime, illegal border crossings have significantly declined,” Chaudhry said. “There has also been a marked difference in the use of passports, and smuggling has decreased,” he added.
India’s ongoing oppression in IIOJK
DG ISPR also condemned India’s ongoing oppression in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
“India has turned occupied Kashmir into a hotbed of violence, and its blatant violations of international laws are evident to the world,” the ISPR DG remarked.
He expressed solidarity with the oppressed Kashmiris, adding, “We stand firmly with the people of occupied Kashmir and will continue to provide them with legal, diplomatic, and moral support.”
Furthermore, he accused the Indian government of targeting minorities, including Sikhs, both within its borders and abroad. “India’s systematic genocide of minorities and involvement in killing Sikhs internationally exposes its agenda,” he said, adding that such actions are part of a larger conspiracy.
