A statement from the military's media wing said that security forces killed 16 terrorists who were trying to enter Pakistan from the Afghan border in the North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa early on Sunday. Security forces discovered a group of terrorists attempting to enter the country through the Pak-Afghan border in the Ghulam Khan Kallay area, according to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). “Own troops effectively engaged and thwarted their attempt to infiltrate,” the ISPR said. The statement used an official term for the terrorists who carried out the attacks: "All sixteen khawarij were sent to hell" after an intense firefight. Pakistan has repeatedly requested the interim Afghan government to ensure efficient border management, according to the ISPR. “[The] Interim Afghan Government is expected to fulfill its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by khawarij for perpetrating acts of terrorism against Pakistan,” it asserted.
The statement came to a close with the words,
"Security forces of Pakistan are determined and remain committed to
securing its borders and eliminating the menace of terrorism from the
country." In the meantime, in a statement, President Asif Ali Zardari
praised the security forces for stopping the terrorists from entering. The
president "praised the bravery of the security forces for killing 16
khawarij during a timely operation," according to the statement. President
Zardari was quoted as saying, "Pakistan's brave forces are committed to
protecting the country's borders at all times." "Actions against
terrorists will continue until the threat of terrorism is eliminated." The
president was quoted as saying that the entire nation “stands with its security
forces in the fight against terrorism.”
In his statement, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi
paid tribute to the security forces for taking swift action and foiling “the
infiltration of khawarij terrorists into North Waziristan.”
The statement continued, "The brave security
forces brought 16 infiltrating khawarij terrorists to a tragic end."
“[The] interior minister lauds security forces’ professionalism for killing 16
khawarij terrorists. We appreciate the actions of the security forces.”
According to a report released by the Pakistan
Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), a think tank based in
Islamabad, there was a slight increase in terrorist attacks in February, but
there was also a significant increase in civilian casualties. According to
Picss, the country witnessed 79 terrorist attacks last month, resulting in the
deaths of 55 civilians and 47 security personnel, while 45 civilians and 81
security personnel were injured. Security forces, meanwhile, intensified
counter-terrorism operations, eliminating 156 terrorists, injuring 20, and
arresting 66, it said.
