According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), an intelligence-based operation was conducted by security forces in Dera Ismail Khan District on December 19 following reports of Khawarij presence.
“During the operation in Dera Ismail Khan District, our troops effectively engaged the Khawarij location, and after an intense exchange of fire, four Khawarij were neutralised,” the statement said.
ISPR further stated that another intelligence-based operation was carried out in Bannu District, where five more Khawarij were killed in an ensuing firefight.
“Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the killed Indian-sponsored Khawarij, who had been actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against security forces, law enforcement agencies, and in target killings of innocent civilians,” the statement added.
The ISPR also said that sanitisation operations are ongoing to eliminate any remaining Indian-sponsored Khawarij in the area, as part of a relentless counter-terrorism campaign under the vision “Azm-e-Istehkam,” approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan.
“Security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to eradicate the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” the statement concluded.