The military’s media affairs wing said on Thursday that 10 terrorists were killed by security forces during an operation in Balochistan’s Zhob.
In a statement, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that after an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Zhob on February 24, in which eight Indian-sponsored terrorists were killed, security forces conducted a comprehensive sanitisation operation on Wednesday to hunt down “hiding khwarij” belonging to Indian proxy Fitna al Khwarij.
Fitna al Khwarij is a term that the state has designated for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.
“During the conduct of the operation, own forces tracked down Khwarij on multiple routes and effectively engaged their locations. After an ensuing fire exchange, ten Indian-sponsored khwarij were sent to hell,” the statement said.
It added that weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the terrorists, who were actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area.
“Sanitisation operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian-sponsored terrorists found in the area,” it said.
The statement added that the security forces and law enforcement agencies would continue to act against terrorism at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country.
Earlier in the day, Foreign Office Spokesperson, Ambassador, Tahir Andrabi highlighted that the reaction from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), following the recent terrorist attack in Balochistan, effectively corroborated Pakistan’s longstanding position regarding external involvement in destabilizing activities.
Addressing the weekly media briefing, the spokesperson reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace, dialogue and diplomacy, while firmly defending its national interests and principled positions on international disputes.
The Foreign Office spokesperson also recalled that this month marks the 19th anniversary of the Samjhauta Express bombing, in which more than 70 precious lives were lost.
Ambassador Andrabi said India has failed to bring those involved in the attack to justice. He strongly rejected the recent statement issued by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, terming it baseless.
Moreover, the Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday said that Pakistan remained seized of the defence ties between Israel and India, including systems and platforms used by New Delhi against Islamabad.
FO Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi made the remarks while responding to a question about expanding defence ties between New Delhi and Tel Aviv and the pacts announced during the recent visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel during his weekly press briefing.
“We are alive to the threat that they pose to our security and our sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as to the regional peace and stability,” he added.
The FO spokesperson said that Pakistan remained cognisant of these threats.
As regards the future threats emanating from India, the spokesperson reiterated that Pakistan has robust military preparedness to defend and deter any Indian aggression.