ISLAMABAD: Security forces killed seven Indian-backed Khawarij in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Balochistan’s Sherani district, the military’s media wing said on Friday.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the terrorists, described as India-sponsored operatives of Fitna-ul-Khawarij, were killed in an exchange of fire during the October 1 operation.
A cache of weapons, ammunition and explosives was recovered from their possession, the ISPR said.
A sanitisation operation is under way in the area to eliminate any remaining threat, ISPR added.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the security forces for the successful operation, saying Pakistan’s enemies would never succeed in harming the country’s sovereignty.
“The Indian-sponsored terrorists who sought to endanger citizens’ life and property have been defeated,” he said, vowing to root out terrorism from the country.
The development comes two days after ISPR said that 18 militants linked to Fitna-ul-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan were killed in separate operations in Quetta and Kech districts, while four were arrested in Khuzdar.
Earlier, a policeman was martyred and two Levies personnel were injured after militants attacked police and Levies stations in Sherani district.
According to Levies, the incident took place in Mir Ali Khel, the district headquarters bordering Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where more than 15 assailants armed with light and heavy weapons simultaneously targeted the Levies headquarters and a nearby police station.
Sherani Deputy Commissioner Hazrat Wali Kakar had confirmed the incident, saying: “Police and Levies personnel retaliated with gunfire. However, Constable Altaf, who was positioned on the police station’s rooftop, was martyred in the firing, while Levies sepoys Kalu Khan and Wahid Khan were injured.”
The attackers set fire to the Levies headquarters and a vehicle parked inside. The exchange of fire lasted more than half an hour before the assailants fled, security officials said.