Seven terrorists killed in North Waziristan IBO; Zardari hails security forces
Seven terrorists killed in North Waziristan IBO; Zardari hails security forces
Seven terrorists were killed in the Eidak area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan district during the North Waziristan IBO reported on Friday, with state media citing security sources.
“Security forces pursued the terrorists of Fitna al Khawarij with determination and combat skills and destroyed their hideouts,” Radio Pakistan said. Fitna al Khawarij is the term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
President Asif Ali Zardari lauded the security forces for the successful operation, a statement issued by his office said. “Under the Azm-i-Istehkam initiative, the efforts of the security forces to completely eliminate terrorism and establish lasting peace are commendable,” the president was quoted as saying.
What happened in the North Waziristan IBO
The intelligence-based operation took place in Eidak, a locality in North Waziristan district that borders Afghanistan. Security sources said troops engaged the terrorists after receiving information about their presence and destroyed their hideouts in the exchange.
Operations in the tribal districts typically rely on ground intelligence, with forces cordoning off suspected compounds before moving in. In this case, Radio Pakistan reported that the forces pursued the militants with “determination and combat skills,” language the state broadcaster regularly uses for successful counterterrorism raids.
The president’s praise linked the operation to Azm-i-Istehkam, the government’s counterterrorism campaign, under which security forces have stepped up intelligence-based operations across KP and Balochistan this year.
A violent month in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
The operation comes amid a sustained wave of militant violence in the province. KP, excluding the merged districts, recorded 54 terrorist attacks in August compared with 36 in July, representing an increase of 50 per cent, according to data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).
The past fortnight alone has seen near-daily engagements. On September 30, security forces killed three terrorists in an IBO in KP’s Mir Ali. A day before that, five terrorists were killed in an IBO in the Bara area, and on Monday, four terrorists were killed during an IBO in Dera Ismail Khan.
Militants have also struck back. Last week, 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.
On September 18, a major attack on the old Police Lines in Kohat claimed 23 lives and injured about 100 others; eight terrorists were killed during the overnight clearance operation. On September 17, security forces killed 10 terrorists in separate operations across KP between September 15 and 17, and earlier in the month more than 20 terrorists were killed during multiple engagements between September 3 and 5.
Frequently asked questions
How many terrorists were killed in the North Waziristan IBO?
Seven terrorists were killed in the Eidak area of North Waziristan during an intelligence-based operation reported on Friday, October 2. State media cited security sources, and Radio Pakistan said the forces destroyed the militants’ hideouts.
Who are Fitna al Khawarij?
Fitna al Khawarij is the term the Pakistani state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the group blamed for most attacks in KP and Balochistan.
What did President Zardari say about the operation?
President Asif Ali Zardari lauded the security forces, saying that under the Azm-i-Istehkam initiative, their efforts to completely eliminate terrorism and establish lasting peace were commendable.
How bad is the militant violence in KP right now?
KP, excluding the merged districts, recorded 54 terrorist attacks in August, up 50 per cent from 36 in July, according to PICSS data. September has seen near-daily operations and several major attacks, including the Kohat Police Lines attack that killed 23 people.
