The military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), announced on Friday that 43 terrorists had been killed during extensive intelligence-based operations (IBOs) conducted by security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan over the past five days. These operations have delivered a significant blow to “Fitna-Al-Khwarij” and other terrorist groups.
According to the ISPR statement, on the night between December 12 and 13, security forces carried out an IBO in Lakki Marwat district, KP, targeting a reported militant hideout. “Our troops effectively engaged the Khwarij location, resulting in the killing of six terrorists,” the statement added. Since December 9, a total of 18 terrorists have been killed in KP.
On December 13, two separate IBOs were conducted in Balochistan’s Musa Khel and Panjgur districts, neutralizing 10 terrorists. The total number of terrorists killed in Balochistan since Monday stands at 25.
The ISPR emphasized that these operations will continue until peace is restored and all terrorists are eliminated, reinforcing Pakistan’s commitment to eradicating terrorism.
The military’s ongoing efforts come amid a sharp rise in terrorist violence and counter-terrorism operations. A report by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) revealed a 90% increase in violence during the third quarter of 2024, with 722 people killed, including civilians, security personnel, and insurgents. Of these fatalities, nearly 97% occurred in KP and Balochistan, marking the highest levels of violence in the region in a decade.
The report also highlighted that terrorist groups are continuing to reorganize and strengthen their ranks, with most of the attacks going unclaimed, likely for tactical reasons. The total fatalities for the first three quarters of 2024 have already surpassed the fatalities recorded for all of 2023, with 1,534 deaths compared to 1,523 in the previous year.
