By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s military said on Monday it had killed 11 militants in two separate operations in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as the country grapples with a surge in terrorist attacks.
Ten militants were killed in an intelligence-based operation in Dera Ismail Khan District, while another militant was killed in a separate encounter in North Waziristan District, the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement.
The military said the militants had been involved in “numerous terrorist activities in the area against security forces as well as the innocent civilians.”
The two operations took place on April 21-22.
“An intelligence-based operation was conducted in Dera Ismail Khan District on reported presence of terrorists. During conduct of the operation, after an intense fire exchange, ten terrorists were successfully neutralized and sent to hell,” the ISPR said.
“In another encounter in North Waziristan District, own troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location as a result of which one more terrorist was sent to hell.”
The statement said the locals of the area appreciated the operations by the security forces, “who remain determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country”.
Security in areas of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan has deteriorated in recent months. Attacks, some claimed by the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) Islamist militant group, have risen, mostly targeting police and security officials, while separatist groups have also launched attacks in the country’s southern and southwestern regions.
Five Japanese nationals narrowly escaped a suicide bombing on their vehicle last week, while unknown gunmen killed two customs officers on Sunday, following the killing of five other customs officials in the area in recent days.
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