Miranshah: Security forces in Pakistan have successfully neutralized 21 members of the Indian-sponsored group Fitna-Al-Khwarij in a series of operations across the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. The operations, which took place along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, were aimed at thwarting infiltration attempts by the militant group.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that an initial engagement on the night of August 31 and September 1 along the border in North Waziristan District resulted in the elimination of ten Khwarij. This operation increased the total number of neutralized militants to 25. Another encounter in North Waziristan led to the killing of seven more Khwarij, while four additional militants were neutralized in separate operations in Kohat and Dera Ismail Khan Districts.

The ISPR emphasized the ongoing threat posed by the Khwarij and reiterated Pakistan’s longstanding concerns regarding the Afghan Taliban regime’s failure to prevent the use of Afghan territory for cross-border terrorism. The organization criticized the regime for not honoring its international counter-terrorism obligations.

Sanitization operations are underway to root out any remaining Khwarij in the area. The security forces remain committed to defending Pakistan’s borders and continuing their counter-terrorism efforts under the “Azm-e-Istehkam” initiative.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif have commended the security forces for their effective operations. Both leaders reiterated the nation’s support for the security forces and urged the Afghan Interim Government to prevent its territory from being used for terrorist activities. They reaffirmed the determination to eliminate foreign-sponsored terrorism from Pakistan.