Army officer among three soldiers martyred, eight terrorists killed in Bannu IBO

• Forces conducted IBO on reported presence of militants: ISPR.
• Seven khwarij sustain injuries during gun battle with forces.  
• In another IBO, one terrorist killed in Balochistan’s Zhob District.

Three personnel of the Pakistan Army, including a major, were martyred and eight terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Bannu District, the military's media wing said on Wednesday.

“Security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in general area Bakka Khel, Bannu district on the reported presence of khwarij [terrorist],” said a statement issued by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR),

During the conduct of the operation, the troops effectively engaged the militants location and as a result of which “eight khwarij were sent to hell, while seven khwarij got injured”.

During intense exchange of fire, Major Atif Khalil, 31 — a brave officer, who was leading his troops from front — fought gallantly and embraced shahadat along with his two men.

It further said that the two soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice include Naik Azad Ullah, 36, resident of district Karak and Lance Naik Ghazanfar Abbas, 35, resident of district Layyah.

The military’s media wing said that a sanitization operation was launched to eliminate any other terrorist found in the area, as security forces are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism.

“Such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve,” said the ISPR.

Separately, in another IBO, the security forces gunned down a terrorist in Balochistan’s Zhob district. As per the ISPR, the operation was conducted on the reported presence of “Khwarij” in the area on the night between October 29-30.

“During conduct of the operation, intense fire exchange took place between own troops and Khwarij, as a result of which, one Kharji was sent to hell, while one Kharji was apprehended in injured condition.”

The military’s media wing said that weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the terrorists.

“Security forces of Pakistan, in step with the nation, remain determined to thwart attempts at sabotaging peace, stability and progress of Balochistan,” said the ISPR. 

In a move to shift its war on terror from a physical to an ideological front, the government had categorised the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as "Fitna al-Khawarij" earlier this year.

The nation has been reeling under rising violent attacks since the Taliban rulers returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021, particularly in the bordering provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

The federal cabinet in June this year approved Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, a reinvigorated national counter-terrorism campaign following the Central Apex Committee's recommendations under the National Action Plan to root out terrorism.