22 militants killed in North Waziristan operation, says ISPR

ISLAMABAD: Security forces killed 22 militants during a sanitisation operation in the Shewa area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan district, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Tuesday.

The military’s media wing said the operation had been under way since Sunday after security forces received credible intelligence about the presence of militants in the area. The latest fighting took place over the last 24 hours.

According to the ISPR, the operation involved an intense exchange of fire, after which 22 militants were killed. The statement said the slain men belonged to what it described as the Indian-sponsored Fitna al-Khawarij. Weapons and ammunition were recovered from them and said they had been involved in multiple militant activities in the area.

The ISPR said the operation had not yet concluded and that troops had sealed off the area while efforts continued to clear it of any remaining militants.

It also said the militants had used coercion against local residents and forced them to facilitate their movement.

In its statement, the ISPR said: "After intense exchange of fire, 22 khwarij, belonging to Indian-sponsored Fitna al-Khawarij, have been sent to hell in the last 24 hours,' the ISPR said in its statement further adding that "The sanitisation operation is currently in progress, and the area has been effectively cordoned off by security forces. Evidence further confirms that khwarij coerced and intimidated the local population, forcing their compliance to obtain safe passage using them as human shield. Such deplorable acts are highly condemnable and no justification can rationalise the endangerment of public lives"

Leaders commend operation

President Asif Ali Zardari praised the professionalism of the security forces for carrying out what he described as an effective action against militants. He said the use of civilians as human shields reflected the group’s brutality and disregard for human life. The president also paid tribute to the courage, bravery and sacrifices of personnel taking part in counter-terrorism operations.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also lauded the forces for the operation’s outcome and said they were making gains in the fight against militancy. "Security forces are achieving significant successes in the war against terrorism," he said. "Our security forces stand like an iron wall against terrorism. We are committed to completely eradicating all forms of terrorism from the country."

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also commended the forces’ professional capability and said they had foiled the militants’ designs. He said the public stood with the security forces in the campaign against militancy and added that militants and their facilitators were being eliminated with national support.

Security backdrop

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has faced persistent militant violence since the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan, with attackers frequently crossing the border and targeting police convoys and vehicles, resulting in the deaths of officials and personnel.

The Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies said in a report that 85 verified militant attacks were recorded in April, compared with 146 in March, a decline of 42%. Fatalities from such attacks fell from 106 to 60, continuing a downward trend that had started in the previous month.

The improvement followed Pakistan’s cross-border military campaign against militant groups and Taliban positions between February 26 and March 18, after which hostilities were suspended and talks were held in Urumqi, China.