Security forces kill 4 terrorists in IBO in KP's Dera Ismail Khan: state media

Security forces killed four terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Khwarij during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dera Ismail Khan on Monday, state-run APP reports citing security sources.

The state uses the term Fitna al-Khawarij for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and refers to designated Balochistan-based groups as Fitna al-Hindustan to highlight India’s role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan.

The sources said that the operation was conducted based on close intelligence-based surveillance of terrorist movements by the security forces, according to APP.

A large quantity of weapons and ammunition was recovered from the terrorists, as well as Afghan currency, they added.

“Security forces remain determined to completely eliminate the scourge of terrorism from the country and ensure lasting peace,” APP quoted the sources as saying.

KP and Balochistan have witnessed an increase in terrorist attacks in recent weeks, prompting security forces to intensify counter-terrorism operations.

KP, excluding the merged districts, recorded 54 terrorist attacks in August compared with 36 in July, representing an increase of 50pc, according to data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).

A dozen people lost their lives while 35 others were injured in a suicide blast on Saturday, when a vehicle laden with explosives was rammed into the Aman Mela police checkpost in DI Khan’s Darazinda tehsil.

Last week, security forces killed eight terrorists during an IBO in North Waziristan and destroyed their hideouts, according to security sources.