30 terrorists killed in South Waziristan
The ISPR, the media wing of the military, stated that the IBO was carried out on Monday on the "reported presence of Khwarij" – a term used for terrorists belonging to the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
"During the conduct of operation, own troops effectively engaged the khwarij location, as a result of which, thirty khwarij were sent to hell," it said. "Sanitization operation is being conducted to eliminate any other Kharji found in the area as the security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country," it added.
President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lauded the security forces for their successful operation in South Waziristan. The president reaffirmed the government's resolve to completely eradicate Fitna al-Khwarij.
The security forces are carrying out operations to eliminate the spectre of terrorism. The entire nation is united against terrorism," the president said, reiterating that the operations against Fitna al-Khwarij would continue till its complete elimination.
The prime minister stated that security forces would continue to thwart the nefarious designs of the enemies of humanity. He added that with each passing day, security forces were moving closer to their goal of eliminating terrorism.
"The sacrifices of the sons of the soil will not go in vain," the prime minister stated. He added that the government and the security forces were fully committed to completely eradicating terrorism from the country.
The security forces have intensified operations against the terrorist elements in the affected parts of the country, including the Waziristan region. In the recent past, the forces have conducted scores of IBOs in the North and the South Waziristan districts killing a number of Khwarij.
Over the weekend, a United Nations report revealed that Afghan Taliban's continued support for the banned TTP, despite Islamabad's increasing pressure to cease backing the outfit, was fuelling the group's escalating attacks in Pakistan.
The 35th report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team submitted to the UN Security Council assessed the threat landscape posed by these outfits. It said that the scale of the TTP's attacks in Pakistan had increased significantly.
The report, covering the period from July 1 to December 13, 2024, stated that the "status and strength" of the TTP in Afghanistan had not changed, while the group intensified its attacks on Pakistan, conducting over 600 assaults during the reporting period, many launched from Afghan territory.
It underscored that the Taliban continued to provide the outlawed TTP with logistical and operational space and financial support, bolstering the group's capacity to sustain its activities. The TTP, it said, had "established new training centres in Kunar, Nangarhar, Khost, and Paktika (Barmal)", in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, addressing a group of university students last week, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir described Fitna-al Khawarij as a disruptive group and stated categorically that Pakistan would not allow them to impose their ideology on the country.
He said that the Fitna-al Khawarij was ignorant of Islam. "We are fighting the anarchists of Fitna-al-Khawarij. These external elements distort the true teachings of Islam and violate its principles," the army chief remarked.
Quoting verses from the holy Quran, General Asim Munir reinforced his position on Fitna Khawarij, stating that the Quran clearly prescribed severe punishments for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger (PBUH) and spread anarchy on earth.
General Asim Munir reiterated that the Pakistan Army was fighting against corrupt elements who misinterpreted Islam. He stated that the Khawarij were violating Islamic teachings, and the religion had clear directives regarding such troublemakers.
(WITH INPUT FROM NEWS DESK)
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