Pakistani security forces foiled an attempted suicide attack and killed three terrorists in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan district, the military’s media wing said.
A statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that security forces foiled a “major terrorist incident and averted a potential catastrophic attack” a day after conducting an intelligence-based operation in the district’s Jhallar area. The operation was launched based on credible intelligence about the presence of terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij, who were preparing a vehicle-borne suicide bomber for a major terrorist activity.
Fitna al-Khawarij is a term generally used for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Reports mention that the troops effectively engaged the terrorists at their location, destroyed the vehicle being prepared for the suicide attack, and eliminated three terrorists through precise and skillful engagement. The ISPR added that a sanitisation operation was underway to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in terrorist attacks in recent months, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, predominantly targeting police and law enforcement personnel. Attacks have increased since the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) broke its ceasefire agreement with the government in 2022.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi recently highlighted that the resurgence of terrorism being witnessed in the province was due to the “flawed policy of the federal government.”
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which has been in power in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since 2013, opposes military operations that are also resisted by tribal communities, as they often lead to displacements.
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