Security forces have killed five terrorists during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) conducted in Balochistan’s Khuzdar district, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Wednesday.
The military’s media wing stated that on the night between 14 and 15 September, security forces carried out an intelligence-based operation in Khuzdar on reported presence of terrorists “belonging to Indian proxy”.
“During the conduct of [the] operation, own forces effectively engaged the terrorists’ location, and after an intense fire exchange, five Indian sponsored terrorists were sent to hell,” added the ISPR.
The military media wing further said that weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the terrorists, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area.
“Sanitization operation is being conducted to eliminate any other terrorist found in the area, as the security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of Indian sponsored terrorism from the country, and reaffirm the nation’s unwavering resolve to bring the perpetrators of terrorism to justice.”
The operation took place days after 35 terrorists were killed during two separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) South Waziristan and Bajaur districts between Sept 10 and 13.
Pakistan has in recent months been experiencing a surge in terror incidents, particularly in KP and Balochistan. After withdrawing from a ceasefire agreement with the government in November 2022, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) intensified assaults on security forces, police and other law enforcement personnel.
Fitna al Khwarij is being used to refer to terrorists belonging to the outlawed TTP, while Balochistan-based groups are referred to as Fitna-al-Hindustan to highlight India’s alleged role in terrorism and destabilisation across the country.