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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s security forces killed 23&nbsp;terrorists during a sanitization operation in the Shewa area of North Waziristan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military&#39;s media wing said in a statement on Monday. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operation began on May 17, following credible intelligence regarding the presence of terrorists in the area. Security forces killed the terrorists affiliated with what the military described as &quot;Indian-sponsored Fitna al-Khwarij&quot; after an intense exchange of fire over 24 hours. Pakistan officially refers to the proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan as &quot;Fitna al-Khwarij,&quot; a term used by the state to underscore the group&#39;s extremist ideology and delegitimize its actions. The ISPR said weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain terrorists, who it said had been actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the region. The military said the sanitization operation remains underway, with the area cordoned off by security forces. It added that the evidence indicated that the terrorists had coerced and intimidated local residents, forcing them to provide safe passage and using them as human shields. &quot;Such deplorable acts are highly condemnable, and no justification can rationalize the endangerment of civilian lives,&quot; the ISPR said. The military said the operation is continuing to eliminate terrorists hiding in the area as part of Pakistan&#39;s ongoing counterterrorism campaign under &quot;Azm-e-Istehkam,&quot; approved by the Federal Apex Committee under the National Action Plan. It said the campaign by security forces and law enforcement agencies would continue at full pace to eliminate what it described as foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country. Pakistan has intensified its counter-terrorism operations against terrorist outfits.&nbsp; &nbsp; Last week, at least seven terrorists were killed during a military operation in Pakistan&#39;s Balochistan province.&nbsp;Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps Balochistan commenced an area sanitization operation at general area Nosham of Barkhan District to eliminate terrorists of &quot;Indian-backed Fitna al-Hindustan,&quot; according to the ISPR.

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The operation, which began on May 17, followed credible intelligence regarding the presence of terrorists in the area.

 Pakistan forces kill 23 terrorists in sanitization operation in North Waziristan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday summoned Afghanistan&rsquo;s interim Deputy Head of Mission to Foreign Office following a suicide terrorist attack in North Waziristan that martyred four security personnel, as Islamabad slammed Afghanistan-based militants and demanded decisive action.&nbsp;In an official statement, the Foreign Office condemned the attack in the &ldquo;strongest possible terms,&rdquo; saying it was carried out by &ldquo;Khwarij belonging to the Kharji Gul Bahadur Group&rdquo; against a military camp in the North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.&nbsp;Islamabad uses the term &ldquo;Khawarij&rdquo; for the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), invoking a historical label for an extremist sect in early Islam that rejected legitimate authority and declared other Muslims apostates.&nbsp;&ldquo;To convey our strong demarche, the Afghan Deputy Head of Mission was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,&rdquo; the statement said.&nbsp;Pakistan demanded a thorough investigation and concrete measures against those responsible for planning, facilitating and executing terrorist attacks from Afghan soil.&nbsp;Earlier, four terrorists were killed and four Pakistani soldiers were martyred when security forces foiled the major attack on December 19 in the Boya area of North Waziristan, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).&nbsp;&ldquo;In a heinous and cowardly terrorist act, Khwarij belonging to Indian proxy Fitna al Khwarij attacked a security forces camp,&rdquo; the ISPR said, adding that the attackers attempted to breach the camp&rsquo;s perimeter.&nbsp;The military said troops responded swiftly, preventing the militants from entering the facility.&nbsp;After failing to penetrate the defenses, the terrorists rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the outer wall, causing its collapse and damaging nearby civilian infrastructure, including a mosque.&nbsp;&ldquo;This blatant act of barbarism inflicted severe injuries on 15 local civilians, including women and children,&rdquo; the ISPR said, adding that several homes were also damaged.&nbsp;Security forces engaged the attackers and killed all four terrorists. &ldquo;Displaying unwavering courage and professional excellence, own troops engaged the intruders with precision,&rdquo; the statement said.&nbsp;During the intense exchange of fire, four soldiers embraced martyrdom. The ISPR identified them as Havildar Muhammad Waqas, 42, from Kotli; Naik Khanwaiz, 38, from Mansehra; Sepoy Sufyan Haider, 25, from Vehari; and Sepoy Riffat, 32, from Layyah.&nbsp;&ldquo;Having fought gallantly, these brave sons of the soil paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced Shahadat,&rdquo; the military said.&nbsp;The ISPR said the attack was planned and orchestrated by Afghanistan-based Khwarij, contradicting claims by the Afghan interim authorities that no militant groups are operating from their territory.&nbsp;Pakistan urged the interim Afghan government to fulfil its obligations and prevent the use of Afghan soil for terrorist activities against Pakistan.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan reserves the right to hunt these Khwarij down and eliminate their facilitators and affiliates to ensure the safety of its people,&rdquo; the ISPR said.&nbsp;The Foreign Office added that Afghan interim authorities have been categorically informed that Pakistan reserves the right to defend its sovereignty and protect its citizens amid rising cross-border militancy.&nbsp;Militant activity in KP has surged since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, with armed groups frequently targeting security convoys, checkpoints, and government officials through attacks, kidnappings, and assassinations.&nbsp;Pakistan has repeatedly warned that militant groups, including Fitna al Khwarij, are operating from safe havens across the Afghan border and receiving foreign support to conduct terrorist operations within Pakistan.&nbsp;Islamabad has consistently raised these concerns with Afghan interim authorities, calling for decisive action. Despite Pakistan&rsquo;s continued diplomatic engagement and restraint, repeated cross-border attacks have escalated tensions between the two countries.&nbsp;

Pakistan summoned Afghanistan’s interim envoy after a suicide attack in North Waziristan martyred four soldiers. Islamabad blamed Afghanistan-based militants, demanded action against perpetrators, and reaffirmed its right to defend sovereignty amid rising cross-border militancy

Articles tagged with "North Waziristan"

Pakistan forces kill 23 terrorists in sanitization operation in North Waziristan

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Pakistan forces kill 23 terrorists in sanitization operation in North Waziristan