https://arab.news/vthd7
- The militants were suspected of launching attacks on security forces along with extortion and target killings
- Pakistan’s top army generals vowed to deal with militant factions with ‘full might of the state’ earlier this week
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s security forces carried out an intelligence-based operation in North Waziristan district, the army’s media wing, ISPR, said in a statement on Saturday, killing five militants involved in violent activities and other crimes in the area.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant violence since the beginning of the year which has been claimed by various proscribed entities including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) whose leadership is said to have taken sanctuary in neighboring Afghanistan.
Earlier this week, the top army generals decided in a huddle to deal with such militant factions and their facilitators with the “full might of the state” to restore peace in the country.
“On 29th December 2023, Security Forces conducted an Intelligence Based Operation (IBO) in area of Mir Ali, North Waziristan District, on reported presence of terrorists,” the ISPR said in its statement, adding that five militants, including their leader, were killed after intense exchange of fire.
“The terrorists remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against security forces as well as extortion and target killings of innocent civilians,” it added. “Weapons and ammunition were also recovered during the operation.”
The ISPR informed it had launched a “sanitization operation” to eliminate any other militant hiding in the area.
Pakistan has repeatedly requested Afghanistan not to allow armed factions like the TTP to use its territory to launch attacks in the neighborhood.
Officials in Islamabad also launched a deportation drive toward the end of the year to send all “illegal immigrants,” mostly Afghan nationals, to their country for security reasons.