By Khawaja Hamza

RAWALPINDI, Ten militants belonging to what the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) described as the Indian-sponsored “Fitna-al-Khwarij” were killed in multiple engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa between September 15 and 17, according to the military’s media wing.

ISPR said an intelligence-based operation was conducted by security forces in North Waziristan after reports of militant presence in the area. During the operation, troops engaged a militant position, and after an intense exchange of fire, six militants were killed.

In a separate encounter in Hangu district, security forces killed four more militants, according to ISPR.

The military said weapons and ammunition were recovered from the militants, who it alleged had been involved in various terrorist activities in the area.

ISPR also said that on September 17, an improvised explosive device (IED) targeted a security forces convoy, resulting in the deaths of six security personnel.

Following the engagements, sanitisation operations are underway to locate and eliminate any remaining militants in the area, the statement said.

ISPR said security forces and law-enforcement agencies would continue the counterterrorism campaign under “Azm-e-Istehkam,” approved by the Federal Apex Committee under the National Action Plan, with the stated objective of eliminating foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country.

The military paid tribute to the personnel killed in the attacks, saying their sacrifices reinforced the armed forces’ commitment to safeguarding the country.