Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Egypt have concluded a joint military exercise focused on counterterrorism operations, according to the military&rsquo;s media wing. In an official statement, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated that the two-week exercise, named Thunder-II, was conducted at Cherat, Pakistan. It aimed to improve the &ldquo;interoperability&rdquo; between the two armies by &ldquo;refining drills, procedures and techniques&rdquo; related to counterterrorism operations through joint training. Combat teams from the Special Services Group of the Pakistan Army and the Egyptian Special Forces participated in the exercise. According to the statement, they demonstrated &ldquo;professionalism&rdquo; and &ldquo;operational skill throughout&rdquo; the exercise. The General Officer Commanding of the Special Services Group attended the closing ceremony as chief guest. Commander of Egyptian Paratroopers Major General Mohamed Saad Abdel Razik and the Egyptian defense attach&eacute; also witnessed the even. The exercise further strengthened longstanding military-to-military relations between Pakistan and Egypt, the military&rsquo;s media wing stated.

Pakistan and Egypt carried out a joint military exercise focused on counterterrorism operations. (ISPR)

Security

The exercise focused on improving the “interoperability” between the two armies by “refining drills, procedures and techniques” related to counterterrorism operations through joint training.

Pakistan, Egypt conclude joint counterterrorism exercise: Military 

Naila Shuja

After years in the newsroom and in front of the camera, reading stories shaped by misinformation and disinformation, a visible shift is now emerging. International headlines are changing, the false narratives have finally hit a wall. The truth is no longer hiding &mdash; it has been brought into the open. Global media has often falsely framed Pakistan as the primary source of terrorism despite its history of counter-terrorism efforts. However, the reality on the ground is increasingly making it difficult for the international community to ignore Pakistan&#39;s actual role and the complexities of the security landscape, be it regional or international. As hard facts, data and on-ground evidence come to the fore, these long-standing narratives are now facing major challenges. Two decades, 80,000 lives and roughly $150 billion in economic loss - that is the price Pakistan has paid. Before delving further into details, one needs to understand one thing &ndash; the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has been designated as Fitna-Al-Khawarij, instigates, facilitates and perpetrates terrorism in Pakistan from Afghan soil. From suicide blasts to cross-border attacks, this group is behind these heinous crimes, which target Pakistan&#39;s sovereignty and weaken its security. Since 2022, Pakistan has conducted eight major operations to combat and counter terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Among them are Raad-ul-Fasaad and Azm-e-Istehkam, which were undertaken to eliminate terrorist sleeper cells in the urban areas and counter the resurgence of militancy after Afghan Taliban came into power in 2021. In 2009, the National Counter Terrorism Authority was established to ensure coordination between various state institutions on intelligence sharing and policy. After the horrific APS Peshawar attack in 2014, the consensual 20-point national action plan was devised. With laws and regulations being passed to stop terror financing, Pakistan gradually gained the upper hand in tackling the menace of terrorism. With religious scholars signing the Paigham-e-Pakistan in 2018, this all-inclusive decree declared suicide bombings and domestic insurgency &lsquo;un-Islamic&rsquo;, which challenged extremist ideology. While being targeted by foreign disinformation campaigns, reports from the EU DisinfoLab exposed the huge network of these fake media outlets &ndash; all backed and sponsored by India and its agencies. Following the regional shift in 2021, the Afghan Taliban interim regime, despite their international commitments, consistently and persistently allowed Afghan soil to be used by various terrorist organizations, such as the TTP, to carry out their attacks. The support they provided to these terror outfits should have actually been directed towards the Afghan people, especially women and children. That being said, the new nexus of the India-Afghan Taliban- Fitna-Al-Khawarij has not pushed Pakistan on the back foot, but instead made the country resilient and its security forces more determined and prepared. With global media now looking closely towards Pakistan&#39;s fight against terrorism, India&rsquo;s credibility has suffered dramatically &ndash; in fact it has gone down the drain. India should therefore serve as an example for those relying on fake news. Sensational news, which India spread without any context, defied journalistic ethics and values, and only ended up tarnishing its image.&nbsp;With facts, data, and real-time evidence readily available, false narratives are no longer finding space in international discourse. This is why Pakistan stands resolute and sound as foreign accusations disintegrate from their seams. Disinformation campaigns proved false as seen during the mass shooting in Sydney&rsquo;s Bondi Beach, when major media outlets linked the shooters to Pakistan without any verification. This rush of judgment without verifying facts proves and highlights the systematic biases that Pakistan and its people face and fight on a daily basis. Naila Shuja is a news presenter at Pakistan TV Satellite.

SAT News Desk

Global narratives falsely branding Pakistan as terrorism’s source are collapsing as evidence highlights its sacrifices, counterterrorism operations, and resilience. Disinformation campaigns, especially India-backed, face exposure, while Pakistan’s role, losses, and efforts gain overdue international recognition.

Counter-terrorism, misplaced global assumptions and outdated narratives

ISTANBUL: T&uuml;rkiye on Wednesday detained scores of people suspected of affiliation with Islamic State (ISIS) group during nationwide raids, the interior minister announced on X. &quot;We captured 125 Daesh suspects in simultaneous operations carried out in 25 provinces this morning,&quot; Ali Yerlikaya said, using the Arabic acronym for ISIS. More to follow...

Europe

"We captured 125 Daesh suspects in simultaneous operations carried out in 25 provinces this morning," Turkish interior minister said.

Türkiye detains 125 ISIS suspects in nationwide sweep: minister

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;December 16 is observed across Pakistan as a day of mourning in memory of the victims of the Army Public School attack in Peshawar, one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in the country&rsquo;s history. On this day in 2014, terrorists stormed the Army Public School in Peshawar, killing 147 students and teachers. The attack sent shockwaves across the country and marked a turning point in Pakistan&rsquo;s fight against terrorism. The day is widely remembered as a black day in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where educational institutions across the province observe solemn commemorations to honor the victims,&nbsp;Radio Pakistan reported. Pakistan&#39;s fight against terrorism&nbsp; <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="isPasted">on Monday to the children and staff martyred in the Army Public School attack in Peshawar, saying their sacrifice remains a defining moment in Pakistan&rsquo;s fight against terrorism.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In a message on the 11th anniversary of the December 16, 2014, attack, the president said the nation remembers &ldquo;the innocent children and staff of the Army Public School whose lives were taken in the brutal terrorist attack,&rdquo; describing the tragedy as a solemn reminder of the price Pakistan has paid to safeguard peace.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He expressed solidarity with the families of the victims, acknowledging their courage and resilience in the years since the attack. The president said the nation would always honor the families who transformed their grief into strength for Pakistan.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reaffirming the country&rsquo;s stance, President Zardari said Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to defeating terrorism was absolute. He said there could be no leniency for those who support, finance, shelter, or justify violence, and stressed that there would be no negotiations with groups that take up arms against the state or target children.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The president strongly condemned Indian-sponsored terrorism in Pakistan, saying evidence of attempts to &ldquo;destabilize the country was well documented.&rdquo; Pakistan would continue to &ldquo;expose these hostile activities and will defend its people with full resolve,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He warned &quot;apologists, facilitators and supporters of terrorists that the people and the armed forces of Pakistan shall not spare them and will defeat them, no matter what political, ideological or fake religious garb they try to shroud themselves in.&quot;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">President Zardari also paid tribute to Pakistan&rsquo;s security forces, law enforcement agencies, and intelligence services, saying their efforts had prevented many attacks and tragedies. He said the state would continue to pursue every militant and facilitator until justice was served.&ldquo;The memory of the APS martyrs strengthens our resolve,&rdquo; the president said, adding that Pakistan would never allow enemies of peace to succeed. &#39;Etched in the national conscience&#39;Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also paid tribute to the APS victims, saying their sacrifice was &quot;forever etched in the national conscience.&quot;&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In a message posted on X, he said the martyrs served as a constant reminder of the nation&rsquo;s collective responsibility to defeat terrorism.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2000773490908213459&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=03f8483f327cc399490b2f5527176f0238566353&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 393px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div><span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">&ldquo;The Pakistani nation will always stand united, firm, and unwavering in its resolve to eradicate the scourge of terrorism,&rdquo; the prime minister said.

File photo - Collage of APS martyred students (Radio Pakistan)

December 16 is observed across Pakistan as a day of mourning in memory of the victims of the Army Public School attack in Peshawar, one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in the country’s history.

Pakistan marks 11th anniversary of school massacre as leaders reaffirm anti-terror resolve

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s security forces killed 12 terrorists in an intelligence-based operation in Balochistan&rsquo;s Kalat district, the military&rsquo;s media wing said on Sunday. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistani military, the operation was conducted on Saturday after reports about the presence of terrorists linked to Fitna al Hindustan, a term Pakistan uses for the proscribed India-backed group, Balochistan Liberation Army. ISPR said troops engaged the terrorists&rsquo; hideout and &ldquo;after an intense exchange of fire, 12 Indian-sponsored terrorists were killed.&rdquo;&nbsp; The statement added that weapons, ammunition, and explosives were recovered from the site. The group, it said, had been involved in multiple attacks in the area. Security forces have launched a sanitization operation to clear the locality of any remaining terrorists.&nbsp; <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1997583644396060912&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=6b98360ca9421598c142e5928082d710be5a7be8&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended the forces, noting that under the Azm-e-Istehkam vision, security personnel continue to achieve significant successes against terrorism.<br style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-family: Roboto, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, sans-serif;">&ldquo;The entire nation stands with Pakistan&rsquo;s armed forces,&rdquo; he added, reaffirming the government&rsquo;s commitment to eradicating all forms of terrorism. The military reiterated that counter-terrorism efforts under Azm-e-Istehkam, approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, will continue to target foreign-sponsored terrorism in the country.

A sanitization operation has been launched to clear the locality of any remaining terrorists, the military's media wing said.

Pakistan security forces kill 12 terrorists in Balochistan's Kalat

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s security forces killed nine Indian-sponsored terrorists in two intelligence-based operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military said on Saturday. The first operation in Tank district followed reports of terrorist activity, resulting in the deaths of seven militants, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military&rsquo;s media wing. A second operation in Lakki Marwat killed two more terrorists. The ISPR said weapons and ammunition were recovered, adding that the militants were allegedly linked to cross-border networks and involved in attacks on security forces, law enforcement agencies, and civilians. &lsquo;Timely and effective&rsquo;President Asif Ali Zardari praised the &ldquo;timely and effective&rdquo; actions of the security forces, saluting the sacrifices of martyrs and veterans. &ldquo;With the grace of God, the resolve of the people and forces will remain firm until this threat is eliminated,&rdquo; he said. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also commended the forces, noting that under the Azm-e-Istehkam vision, security personnel continue to achieve significant successes against terrorism. &ldquo;The entire nation stands with Pakistan&rsquo;s armed forces,&rdquo; he added, reaffirming the government&rsquo;s commitment to eradicating all forms of terrorism. Pakistan armed forces launched Operation Azm‑e‑Istehkam in 2024, under approval by PM Sharif, as a renewed nationwide counter‑terrorism campaign. The operation seeks to integrate intelligence‑led security operations with socio‑economic and legal measures to comprehensively eliminate extremism, militancy, and cross‑border terrorism threats across the country. The military said area clearance was being carried out and that counterterrorism operations under the Azm-e-Istehkam framework continued to target foreign-sponsored terrorist groups operating inside Pakistan.

Pakistan’s security forces killed nine Indian-sponsored terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, recovering weapons, while President Zardari and PM Sharif praised operations under Azm-e-Istehkam framework.

Pakistan kills nine Indian-sponsored terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa operations: army

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China have started their joint military exercise Warrior-IX, the ninth edition of the annual counterterrorism drills conducted between the two militaries, the military&#39;s media wing&nbsp;said on Tuesday. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the exercise, which began on Monday at the National Counter Terrorism Center, Pabbi, focuses on counterterrorism operations and aims to enhance interoperability, improve professional skills, and facilitate the exchange of best practices in modern warfare. ISPR said the Pakistan Army and the People&rsquo;s Liberation Army of China continue to maintain time-tested defence cooperation built on mutual trust and strategic partnership. The Warrior series, it added, reflects the strong military-to-military ties and the shared commitment of both countries to regional peace, stability, and security. The Mangla Corps Commander, along with Major General Bian Xiaoming, Deputy Chief of Staff of the PLA Western Theatre Command, and senior military officials from both sides, attended the opening ceremony.

The exercise focuses on counterterrorism operations and aims to enhance interoperability, improve professional skills and facilitate the exchange of best practices in modern warfare.

Pakistan, China begin Warrior-IX joint military exercise

ISLAMABAD: Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has said that the Afghan Taliban regime has become a threat not only to Pakistan but to the security of the entire region. Briefing senior journalists on national security matters on Tuesday, a video of which was released on Friday evening, the DG ISPR said Pakistan has carried out 67,023 intelligence-based operations so far this year. He said 1,873 terrorists were neutralized in 2025, including 136 Afghan nationals. Since November 4 alone, security forces have conducted 4,910 operations, neutralizing 206 terrorists.<div class="fr-embed youtube-embed"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HE5bukjvwvw?si=ouKLt-q8gYM8eH0R" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: auto; aspect-ratio: 16 / 9; max-width: 100%; display: block;">&nbsp;</iframe>&nbsp;</div>He said misleading propaganda was being spread about Pakistan&rsquo;s border management efforts. The Pakistan-Afghanistan border runs through difficult and mountainous terrain, he explained, adding that the fence alone cannot work without observation, firepower and surveillance. He said building forts every few kilometers would require massive resources. He stated that unlike Punjab and Sindh, several villages in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa lie directly on the border, making the movement of people difficult to control. Effective border management, he said, is only possible when both countries cooperate. However, he added that Afghan terrorists are being fully facilitated by the Taliban authorities to enter Pakistan. He said a strong political-terror-crime nexus exists in the border regions, including the use of non-custom-paid vehicles in attacks inside Pakistan. He questioned who is responsible for stopping illegal movement and smuggling once it happens inside Pakistan&rsquo;s territory. The DG ISPR said Pakistan has presented clear and irrefutable evidence to Kabul that terrorist leaders from Al-Qaeda, ISIS and other groups are operating from Afghan soil. He said Pakistan wants the Taliban to fulfil their commitments under the Doha Agreement through a verifiable mechanism, even if monitored by a third party. Calling the Taliban&rsquo;s claim that Pakistani militants are &ldquo;guests&rdquo; in Afghanistan illogical, he said if they are Pakistani citizens they should be handed over to Pakistan. He noted that $7.2 billion worth of US military equipment was left behind in Afghanistan after the withdrawal, according to SIGAR. He said the Taliban regime does not represent all Afghans, lacks ethnic representation, and excludes women. Pakistan, he stressed, has no issue with the Afghan people &mdash; the issue is with the Taliban regime&rsquo;s support for non-state actors. The DG ISPR said trade with Afghanistan cannot continue at the cost of Pakistani lives, adding that &ldquo;bloodshed and trade cannot go hand in hand.&rdquo; He reiterated that Pakistan draws no distinction between good and bad terrorists, saying &ldquo;a good terrorist is one who has been neutralized.&rdquo; He also shared figures for the dignified repatriation of Afghan refugees, saying 366,704 returned in 2024 and 971,604 in 2025, including 239,574 in November alone. He concluded by saying that &ldquo;truth always prevails over falsehood, and Pakistan stands with the truth.&rdquo;

Military spokesperson says Afghan terrorists are being fully facilitated by the Taliban authorities to enter Pakistan.

Afghan regime now a threat to regional security, says Pakistan military

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s security forces have killed 22 terrorists belonging to &quot;Fitna al-Khawarij&quot; during an intelligence-based operation in the northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military&rsquo;s media wing said on Tuesday.&nbsp;According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operation was launched on Nov. 24 in Bannu district after credible reports of the presence of &quot;Fitna al-Khawarij,&quot;&nbsp;Indian-backed terrorists linked to the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. Security forces engaged the hideout, and following an intense exchange of fire, 22 terrorists were eliminated. A sanitization operation was carried out to ensure no other terrorists remained in the area. The ISPR reaffirmed that the country&rsquo;s counterterrorism drive under &ldquo;Azm-e-Istehkam,&rdquo; a counter-insurgency operation approved by the Federal Apex Committee for the National Action Plan, will continue at full pace until the threat of foreign-sponsored terrorism is completely eradicated. Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari paid glowing tribute to the security forces for the successful action. In a statement issued by Aiwan-e-Sadr, the President lauded the &ldquo;timely and effective response&rdquo; of the troops, noting that eliminating Indian-sponsored terrorists remains a top priority of the state. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also commended the security forces for the swift and decisive action. In a statement from the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office, he praised the elimination of the terrorists. He said that under the vision of Azm-e-Istehkam, Pakistan&rsquo;s security forces are achieving significant successes in the fight against terrorism. The prime minister stated that the entire nation stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the armed forces in this struggle and reaffirmed the government&rsquo;s resolve to stamp out terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Security forces say operations will continue to ensure lasting peace and stability across the country.

The Pakistan military's media wing says that the operation in the country's north-western province was conducted after credible reports of the presence of Indian-backed terrorists linked to the group.

Pakistan security forces kill 22 Indian-backed terrorists: military

ISLAMABAD: Security forces killed eight terrorists during a joint intelligence-based operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa&rsquo;s Bannu district, the military said on Saturday.&nbsp;According to <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;" id="isPasted">Pakistan military&#39;s media wing,&nbsp;the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operation was launched on Nov. 21 after reports about the presence of terrorists in the area.&nbsp;Security forces and law enforcement agencies jointly carried out the raid and &ldquo;effectively engaged&rdquo; the suspects, leading to an intense exchange of fire.&nbsp;The ISPR said eight terrorists linked to the group, referred to by Islamabad as &quot;Fitna Al Khwarij,&quot; were killed in the encounter. Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the site.The terrorists were involved in attacks on security forces, law enforcement agencies, and targeted killings of civilians, it said.&nbsp;The statement added that operations in the region have been stepped up under an intelligence-driven campaign aimed at weakening terrorist mobility and dismantling their support networks. A sanitization operation was under way to clear the area of any remaining terrorists, ISPR said, adding that counterterrorism efforts under the &ldquo;Azm-e-Istehkam&rdquo; framework would continue to eliminate foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country.

ISPR says weapons and ammunition were recovered from the site.

Articles tagged with "Counterterrorism"