Security forces and law enforcement agencies have killed 22 militants during a joint intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Khyber district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operation was initiated on April 21 following reports of the presence of militants in the area.
The military’s media wing stated that security personnel engaged in an exchange of fire with individuals it identified as members of the Indian-sponsored Fitna-al-Khwarij – a term used by the state to refer to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The ISPR reported that 22 khawarij were killed during the clash while a 10-year-old child was martyred during the exchange of fire.
Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the site, military sources confirmed, adding that the targeted individuals had been involved in multiple activities within the region.
A sanitisation operation is currently underway to clear the vicinity of any remaining threats.
While President Asif Ali Zardari has expressed grief over the death of the child, remarking that at a time when Pakistan was making every effort to promote peace in the region and the world, terrorists were attempting to undermine our efforts, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has said the death of the minor is a crime against humanity.
The premier also pledged to continue the campaign until militancy is completely eliminated.
