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Security guards stand guard at a site. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
KOHAT/RAWALPINDI:
A total of eleven terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij were neutralized on Sunday during separate counter-terrorism operations in Kohat and Lakki Marwat districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
According to officials, six terrorists were killed during an operation carried out by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Lachi area under the jurisdiction of Lachi police station in Kohat district.
Initial reports indicated that the terrorists had already taken up positions in the area and were waiting to target security personnel. As soon as the CTD operational team reached the site, the terrorists launched a sudden attack.
CTD personnel responded quickly and efficiently, while Kohat police also rushed to the scene after receiving information about the exchange of fire and joined the operation. Following an intense shootout, six terrorists linked to Fitna al-Khawarij were killed.
A large-scale search and disinfection operation was launched in the area immediately after the exchange of fire. During the search, the bodies of the six terrorists were found along with a cache of weapons and ammunition, including four hand grenades, six SMG rifles, six bandoliers, twelve spare magazines and a large quantity of cartridges, indicating that the terrorists had planned a prolonged fight.
Authorities said search operations in the area were continuing to ensure no other terrorists were hiding in the surrounding area, while the process of identifying the slain terrorists and checking their backgrounds had also begun.
Meanwhile, security forces conducted a separate intelligence operation in Lakki Marwat district over the reported presence of terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij, the ISPR said in a statement.
During the operation, the troops actually attacked the terrorists’ hideout and after an intense exchange of fire, five terrorists were killed.
Arms and ammunition were also recovered from the slain terrorists who, according to authorities, had remained actively involved in many terrorist activities in the region. A sanitization operation is underway to eliminate all remaining terrorists as part of the ongoing anti-terrorism campaign under the vision of ‘Azm-e-Istehkam’.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to security forces, KP Police and CTD for the successful operations against terrorists in Kohat and Lakki Marwat.
The President said the elimination of terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij, who were carrying out terrorist activities under foreign patronage and trying to harm peace in Pakistan with the support of India, was an important step towards restoring stability. He said the nation stood with its courageous security forces to eliminate foreign-sponsored terrorism.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the professionalism and courage of security forces and CTD personnel in eliminating terrorists.
