- Troops conducted IBO operation when presence of militants was reported: ISPR.
- Seven Kharijites were injured during a gun battle with the forces.
- In another incident, a terrorist was killed in Job district of Balochistan.
Three Pakistani army personnel, including a major, were killed and eight terrorists were killed during an intelligence operation in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the media wing of the Pakistani army said on Wednesday.
A statement issued by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said, “Security forces carried out an intelligence operation in the Bakkah Khel area of Bannu district about the presence of Kharijites (terrorists).”
During the implementation of the operation, the forces effectively clashed with the militants’ positions, which led to “bringing eight Kharijites into hell, and wounding seven Kharijites.”
During an intense exchange of fire, Major Atef Khalil, 31 years old, a brave officer who was leading his forces from the front, fought valiantly and embraced martyrdom With his legs.
She added that the two soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice were Naik Azadullah (36 years old), a resident of the Karak area, and Lance Naik Ghazanfar Abbas (35 years old), a resident of the Layyah area.
The army’s media wing said that a clearance operation has been launched to eliminate any other terrorist found in the area, as the security forces are determined to eliminate the threat of terrorism.
The institute said: “Such sacrifices made by our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve.”
Separately, in another international organisation, security forces shot a terrorist in the Job district of Balochistan. According to ISPR, the operation was carried out based on reports of the presence of “Kharijites” in the area on the night of October 29-30.
He added: “During the course of the operation, an intense exchange of fire took place between the special forces and the Kharijites, which led to Kharji being sent to hell, while Kharji was captured while he was wounded.”
The army’s media wing said that weapons and ammunition were also seized from the possession of the terrorists.
“The Pakistani security forces, in agreement with the nation, remain determined to thwart attempts to sabotage peace, stability and progress in Balochistan,” the institute said.
In a move to transform its war on terrorism from a physical front to an ideological one, the government designated the outlawed Pakistani Taliban as a “Kharijite sedition” earlier this year.
The country has been suffering from increasing violent attacks since the Taliban rulers returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021, especially in the border provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
The Federal Cabinet in June this year approved Operation Resolve, a renewed national counter-terrorism campaign in the wake of the recommendations of the Central Committee under the National Action Plan to Eradicate Terrorism.