Security Forces Kill 18 Terrorists in North Waziristan, Mastung Operations
Security Forces Kill 18 Terrorists in North Waziristan, Mastung Operations
Security forces eliminated 18 terrorists in separate engagements in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan on Wednesday, state media reported, as operations against militant groups continued under the Azm-e-Istehkam vision. The 18 terrorists killed in the two operations included 13 in North Waziristan and five in Mastung.
Pakistan TV reported the operations citing security sources. Troops recovered heavy weapons and ammunition from the slain terrorists, and clearance and search operations were underway under Operation Radd-ul-Fitna 3.
18 terrorists killed: 13 in North Waziristan, five in Mastung
In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, security forces killed 13 Fitna al-Khawarij terrorists in an intelligence-based operation in North Waziristan. The operation was part of the continuing campaign against militant groups under the Azm-e-Istehkam vision.
Separately, in Balochistan’s Mastung district, security forces killed five terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Hindustan. Weapons and ammunition were recovered from both sites, and search operations continued in the surrounding areas.
The latest strikes follow a string of successful intelligence-based operations in the two provinces. A day earlier, security forces killed five terrorists in another North Waziristan operation. On October 2, seven terrorists were killed in an IBO in North Waziristan. On September 30, three terrorists were killed in Mir Ali, and a day before that five were killed in Bara. On September 28, four terrorists were killed during an IBO in Dera Ismail Khan.
What Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan mean
Fitna al-Khawarij is the term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. The state has designated Balochistan-based terrorist groups as Fitna al-Hindustan to highlight India’s alleged role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan.
Both labels have appeared regularly in official statements this year as the military’s media wing frames the counter-terrorism campaign. The Azm-e-Istehkam vision, approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, guides the current phase of operations.
Attacks rising in both provinces
The operations come against a backdrop of rising militant violence. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, excluding the merged districts, recorded 54 terrorist attacks in August compared with 36 in July, a rise of 50 per cent, according to data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies.
Balochistan fared worse. The number of terrorist attacks in the province rose seven per cent from 83 in July to 89 in August, and the province was declared the most affected by terrorism in the institute’s monthly assessment.
The human cost has been heavy. On September 26, a dozen people lost their lives while 35 others were injured in a suicide blast that targeted the Aman Mela police checkpost in DI Khan’s Darazinda tehsil. Earlier, a firing incident in DI Khan killed four FBR personnel and a policeman. On September 18, a major attack on the old Police Lines in Kohat claimed 23 lives and injured about 100 others.
Frequently asked questions
How many terrorists were killed in Wednesday’s operations?
Security forces killed 18 terrorists in two separate operations: 13 Fitna al-Khawarij terrorists in an intelligence-based operation in North Waziristan, and five Fitna al-Hindustan terrorists in Mastung district of Balochistan.
Where did the operations take place?
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa operation took place in North Waziristan, while the Balochistan operation was carried out in Mastung district. Heavy weapons and ammunition were recovered from both locations.
What do Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan mean?
Fitna al-Khawarij is the state’s term for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. Fitna al-Hindustan is the designation for Balochistan-based terrorist groups, a label meant to highlight India’s alleged role in terrorism inside Pakistan.
How serious is the security situation in KP and Balochistan?
Militant attacks rose sharply in August. KP recorded 54 attacks against 36 in July, a 50 per cent increase, while Balochistan recorded 89 attacks and was declared the province most affected by terrorism, according to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies.
