Security forces kill 12 terrorists in Miran Shah, Kech IBOs

At least 12 terrorists were eliminated during separate intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan and Balochistan’s Kech districts, the military’s media wing said on Wednesday.

In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on November 12-13, security forces conducted IBO in North Waziristan’s Miran Shah area on reported presence of terrorists.

“During conduct of the operation, own troops effectively engaged khwarij's [terrorists] location, as a result of which, eight khwarij were sent to hell, while six khwarij got injured,” it added.

Separately, the ISPR said at least four terrorists, including a “high-value target”, were killed during an intelligence-based operation in Kech district.

The statement said security forces, on the night between November 12-13, conducted the IBO in the general area Balgatar of Kech district on the reported presence of terrorists.

During the conduct of the operation, an intense fire exchange took place between the security forces and the terrorists, as a result of which “four terrorists including the HVT, terrorist ring leader Sana @ Baru” were killed.

“He was a focal recruitment agent, especially suicide bombers, for the so-called Majeed Brigade in district Kech and was highly wanted by the law enforcement agencies.”

The ISPR further said that weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorists.

Security forces also launched sanitisation operations to eliminate any other terrorists found in the KP and Balochistan areas, said the military’s media wing adding that forces are determined to wipe-out the menace of terrorism from the country.

It is pertinent to mention here that the third quarter (July-September) of 2024 saw a sharp increase in fatalities of terrorist violence and counter-terrorism campaigns, with a 90% surge in violence, according to a report issued by Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS).

A total of 722 people were killed, including civilians, security personnel, and outlaws, while 615 others were wounded in as many as 328 incidents recorded during the period under review.

Nearly 97% of these fatalities occurred in KP and Balochistan – marking the highest percentage in a decade, and over 92% of these incidents of terror attacks and security forces’ operations were recorded in the same provinces.

The total fatalities from three quarters of this year have now surpassed the total fatalities recorded for the entire 2023; the number of fatalities rose to at least 1534 in the first three quarters compared to 1523 in 2023.

Meanwhile, terrorist groups continue to reorganise and beef up their ranks. Most of the terror attacks remained unclaimed by terrorist or insurgent groups, likely for tactical reasons, as per the report.