Ten dead in relentless terror purge | The Express Tribune

RAWALPINDI:

Security forces carried out an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Tank district and killed eight “Khwarij belonging to the Indian proxy Fitna al Khwarij”, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a press release, referring to the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

“During the conduct of the operation, own troops effectively engaged Khwarij locations, and after an intense fire exchange, eight Indian-sponsored Khwarij were sent to hell,” the ISPR stated. “Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed Khwarij.”

According to the ISPR, the dead terrorists were involved in numerous attacks against security forces and law enforcement agencies, as well as the killing of innocent civilians. It added that a sanitisation operation was being conducted to eliminate any other Indian-sponsored Khwarij found in the area.

“Relentless counter-terrorism campaign under vision Azm-e-Istihkam (as approved by the Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by security forces and law enforcement agencies will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” the ISPR added.

Hangu

Hangu police said Superintendent of Police (SP) Operations Asad Zubair, his gunman Dawood and driver Atif were martyred in explosions near the Ghalmina checkpost within the limits of the Bilyamina Police Station, prompting a massive operation in which two terrorists were killed.

Police officials said a blast first hit the Ghalmina checkpost, which was empty at the time and caused no casualties. However, when a police team led by SP Asad Zubair reached the blast site, another explosion occurred.

As a result, SP Zubair, his gunman, and driver were fatally wounded, while two other policemen sustained serious injuries. The injured were taken to the District Headquarters Hospital, Hangu, officials said.

Hangu District Police Officer (DPO) Khan Zaib Mohmand confirmed that SP Operations Asad Zubair and two policemen were martyred when “the terrorists carried out a cowardly attack” near the Ghalmina checkpost.

“When SP Asad Zubair and his team reached the site after the first explosion, a second blast occurred, resulting in the martyrdom of the SP and two security personnel,” he said. “Those responsible for the attack will soon be brought to justice.”

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Abbas Majeed also shared similar details while speaking to the media. “Hangu police were engaged in routine patrol and operational duties when terrorists carried out an improvised explosive device (IED) blast near the checkpost,” he said.

Following the explosions, DPO Mohmand reached the site with heavy reinforcements and personally led the counter-operation. Police cordoned off the area and launched a search in the nearby hills, locating the terrorists within half an hour and engaging them in a fierce encounter, police sources said.

The terrorists opened indiscriminate fire, and the exchange continued for more than 30 minutes. During the gun battle, two terrorists were killed, while Station House Officer (SHO) Imranuddin was injured, the sources added.

DPO Mohmand said the sacrifices of the martyred policemen would remain a guiding light for the police force. “The bravery of the Hangu police reflects the national resolve to eliminate terrorism completely,” he said.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the terrorist attack on the police checkpost in Hangu. They praised the security forces for their successful counter-terrorism operation, reaffirming Pakistan’s resolve to eliminate India-backed terror networks operating against the country.

In their separate statements, the president and prime minister expressed deep grief over the martyrdom of police personnel, including SP Asad Zubair, which they said was carried out by India-backed terrorists.

President Zardari termed the terrorists “enemies of peace and stability” and said their cowardly acts were intolerable. He paid tribute to SP Asad Zubair and other police martyrs, saying the nation was proud of its brave sons who laid down their lives to protect the country. “I salute the resolve and courage of the police in the war against terrorism,” he said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz also praised the police for their frontline role in combating terrorism, reiterating that the government remained determined to eradicate the menace from the country. “We are determined to uproot terrorism and will not rest until the last terrorist is eliminated,” he said.

The two leaders also lauded the security forces for successfully conducting the operation in Tank, describing it as a significant achievement in Pakistan’s ongoing counter-terrorism campaign. The operation, they said, had dealt a major blow to militants allegedly operating with Indian support.

Zardari, in a separate statement, commended the professionalism and bravery of the security personnel involved in the Tank operation and reaffirmed his full support for the government’s counter-terrorism drive, named Operation Azm-e-Istihkam.

He said the nation must continue to stand behind its security institutions to defeat the threat of terrorism once and for all. “The sacrifices made for Pakistan’s peace and stability will not go in vain,” he declared.

Prime Minister Shehbaz, in a separate message, congratulated the security forces for their “professional skill” during the operation in Tank, which resulted in the killing of eight foreign militants linked to India.

Both the president and the prime minister reaffirmed that the state would continue sustained operations against terrorist networks and that the entire nation stood united behind its security forces.

They vowed that Pakistan would never allow hostile elements to destabilise the country or undermine its hard-earned peace.

(With additional input from our reporters in Hangu and DI Khan)