Suicide attack on security forces’ camp in North Waziristan’s Mir Ali foiled

Security forces killed eight militants during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Sultan Khel area of Lakki Marwat district, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, official sources confirmed on Friday.

The operation was launched following credible intelligence reports indicating the presence of proxy militants affiliated with the Afghan Taliban. Security personnel cordoned off the area through both aerial and ground surveillance, officials said.

During monitoring, the movement of the militants was detected, prompting a swift and targeted response by the forces. A large cache of weapons and explosives was recovered from the slain militants, sources added.

Read: 34 terrorists killed in multiple K-P operations

Following the encounter, a clearance and search operation was launched to eliminate any remaining threat and prevent the regrouping of militants in the area.

There was also an exchange of fire reported between the Lakki Marwat Peace Committee and a militant group, which led to the killing of five terrorists, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Gul Bahadur faction commander Armdi.

In another intelligence-based operation in Datta Khel, security forces kill six terrorists.

According to security sources, the forces carried out surveillance for eight to 10 days before moving against the terrorists. Fitna al-Khawaraj commander Mehbub, known as Muhammad, was killed in the IBO and three others were injured, said ISPR.

Meanwhile, in Bajaur, the security forces seized hundreds of kilograms worth of explosives from Fitna al-Khawarij terrorists. The terrorists reportedly planned to detonate the vehicle in civilian area in Bajaur but was intercepted and destroyed in time by the security forces, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Sources within security forces claimed that the explosives were smuggled into Pakistan from Afghanistan.

Read more: Army top brass vows ‘full force’ against terrorism

In a separate incident in North Waziristan’s Mir Ali area, one military personnel was martyred when a terrorist rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the perimeter wall of a security forces’ camp. Six other personnel sustained injuries as the roof of the post collapsed due to the blast.

According to the military’s media wing, five terrorists attempted to enter the camp following the explosion but were instantly killed in a “prompt and decisive” response by security forces.

State broadcaster PTV reported the explosion and subsequent exchange of fire.

The operations form part of Pakistan’s continued counter-terrorism campaign under the vision “Azm-e-Istehkam,” aimed at eliminating foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country.

Operation Azm-e-Istehkam aims to eradicate terrorism and extremism, coordinating armed forces and law enforcement efforts while addressing public concerns to curb extremist tendencies.

Also read: Any transgression by Afghanistan will result in swift response from Pakistan: Khawaja Asif

“Fitna al-Khawarij” is the state-mandated term used for terrorists affiliated with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), introduced last year to expose the group’s violent ideology and misrepresentation of Islam.

The operations come during rising escalation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. A 48-hour ceasefire was set in place on Wednesday evening after casualties were reported on either side. 

The truce was extended today after both sides mutually agreed to prolong their 48-hour ceasefire until the conclusion of planned talks in Doha, according to three Pakistani security officials and one Afghan Taliban source.

Pak-Afghan ceasefire

Pakistan maintains that Fitna-al Khawaij is being supported by Afghan Taliban regime, who is effectively serving India’s interests, with the government in Kabul fighting a proxy war on India’s behalf.

Tensions along the Pak-Afghan border escalated last weekend, when clashes broke after Afghanistan opened unprovoked fire at multiple locations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Balochistan, prompting a swift and forceful response from the Pakistan Army. Several Afghan posts were destroyed and dozens of Afghan soliders and militants were killed.

A 48-hour ceasefire was agreed on after Pakistan’s “precision strikes” on Taliban and terrorist hideouts in Kandahar and Kabul in Afghanistan.

According to the foreign affairs ministry, the decision was made at the Taliban’s request and with mutual consent from both sides. Both the parties are to hold a constructive dialogue and make sincere efforts to find a “positive solution to a complex but solvable issue,” said the ministry.

Islamabad had warned that if Afghanistan violates the 48-hour ceasefire set in place since 6pm on Wednesday on the latter’s request, Pakistan would be compelled to respond.