- ISPR says IBO conducted in Quetta, Kech districts.
- Adds operation part of Azm-e-Istehkam campaign.
- President, PM pay tribute to security forces.
At least eighteen India-backed terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Hindustan were killed in two separate operations in Balochistan, the military’s media wing said on Thursday.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement that an intelligence-based operation (IBO) was conducted in the general area of Chiltan Mountains, Quetta district, on the reported presence of terrorists.
“During the conduct of the operation, own troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location, and after an intense fire exchange, fourteen India-sponsored terrorists were sent to hell,” it added.
In another IBO conducted in the general area of Buleda, Kech district, a terrorist hideout was busted and four terrorists were successfully neutralised, the ISPR said.
It said weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from slain terrorists, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities.
The military said sanitisation operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian sponsored terrorists found in the area.
It further said that the relentless counter terrorism campaign under vision “Azm-e-Istehkam” by the security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid rich tribute to security forces for eliminating 18 terrorists of Indian proxy Fitna al-Hindustan in Balochistan, reaffirming Pakistan’s firm resolve under Azm-e-Istehkam to eradicate all foreign-sponsored terrorism.
Pakistan has been grappling with rising terror incidents, particularly in KP and Balochistan, since the Afghan Taliban regime took power in 2021.
The government has repeatedly urged the Taliban regime to rein in terrorist groups responsible for countless attacks in Pakistan.
However, the Taliban regime largely remained indifferent to Pakistan’s demands and provided refuge to multiple terrorist groups targeting security forces and civilians.
Instead of addressing Pakistan’s concerns about cross-border terrorism, the Taliban regime resorted to unprovoked firing along the border on October 12.
Pakistan Armed Forces retaliated swiftly, killing over 200 Taliban fighters and affiliated militants; however, as many as 23 Pakistani soldiers were martyred during the border clashes.
Security forces also conducted strikes inside Afghanistan, including in Kabul, destroying terrorists’ hideouts in the country.
Hostilities between forces of the two nations ceased after Pakistan accepted the Taliban regime’s request for a temporary ceasefire on October 17.
Delegations from the two countries later met for talks mediated by Qatar in Doha, where they agreed on a ceasefire agreement.
Turkiye then hosted the second round of talks in Istanbul, which began on October 25.
However, the talks ended inconclusively after four days over what Pakistani authorities described as the Taliban delegation’s “illogical” arguments, which they said were “detached from ground realities”.
