RAWALPINDI: Security forces killed two terrorists and apprehended another during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Kulachi area of Dera Ismail Khan district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military’s media wing reported on Monday.
According to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operation, conducted on December 9, targeted militants based on credible intelligence regarding their presence in the area. During the operation, security forces engaged the terrorists’ location, resulting in the death of two militants and the capture of one, who was injured.
The ISPR statement also revealed that weapons and ammunition were recovered from the terrorists, who were actively involved in attacks against security forces and the targeted killing of innocent civilians. Following the operation, a sanitization operation was launched in the area to eliminate any remaining militants.
The statement emphasized that Pakistan’s security forces remain determined to eradicate terrorism from the country.
This operation comes just days after a deadly series of clashes on December 7, when at least 22 terrorists were killed and six soldiers martyred in separate engagements across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tank, North Waziristan, and Thall districts.
According to a report by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), the third quarter of 2024 saw a significant surge in terrorist violence, with fatalities from terror attacks and counter-terrorism operations rising by 90%. A total of 722 people were killed, including civilians, security personnel, and militants, and 615 others were wounded in 328 incidents. Nearly 97% of these fatalities occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, marking the highest percentage of deaths in a decade.
The report also indicated that the total fatalities for the first three quarters of 2024 have surpassed those of the entire year of 2023, with at least 1,534 fatalities compared to 1,523 the previous year. Meanwhile, terrorist groups are reportedly rearming and reorganizing, with many terror attacks going unclaimed, likely for tactical reasons.
