Four terrorists were neutralized in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) conducted on Saturday by Peshawar’s Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and security forces.
According to the CTD, Saturday's IBO was based on credible intelligence regarding the presence of suspected terrorists in Peshawar's Sango and Sarband localities.
The initial objective of the operation was to arrest the suspected miscreants. However, as soon as they saw security forces' personnel, the suspects opened fire and attempted to escape. Sources at the CTD say that a firefight between the armed terrorists and security forces ensued, which continued for half an hour. Local sources, however, claimed that intermittent gunfire was heard for over an hour during the evening.
After the gunfight ended, a search and clearance operation was carried out in the area, as per the CTD. Preliminary investigations revealed that four terrorists were killed, while presumably another three to four suspected terrorists managed to escape by taking advantage of the dark.
The Peshawar CTD also stated that it recovered four Kalashnikov machine guns and three hand grenades. The killed terrorists reportedly belonged to an unnamed banned organization, and were wanted by law enforcement in connection with multiple cases.
On Thursday, the ISPR said a successful IBO was conducted in South Waziristan, which resulted in the elimination of nearly a dozen terrorists, including a wanted militant commander and at least two suicide bombers.
After a spate of terror attacks in December last year, which indicated a new phase of extremist militancy haunting Pakistan, the national security committee authorized a 'zero tolerance' policy against terrorists. A proactive approach to preempting terror cells, and coherently building up the capacity as well as capability of civilian law enforcement, seems to be part of this new policy which has been approved by the country's civil-military leadership.
A recently published report states that Pakistan now faces a three-dimensional threat from terror groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Islamic State (ISKP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
According to the CTD, Saturday's IBO was based on credible intelligence regarding the presence of suspected terrorists in Peshawar's Sango and Sarband localities.
The initial objective of the operation was to arrest the suspected miscreants. However, as soon as they saw security forces' personnel, the suspects opened fire and attempted to escape. Sources at the CTD say that a firefight between the armed terrorists and security forces ensued, which continued for half an hour. Local sources, however, claimed that intermittent gunfire was heard for over an hour during the evening.
After the gunfight ended, a search and clearance operation was carried out in the area, as per the CTD. Preliminary investigations revealed that four terrorists were killed, while presumably another three to four suspected terrorists managed to escape by taking advantage of the dark.
The Peshawar CTD also stated that it recovered four Kalashnikov machine guns and three hand grenades. The killed terrorists reportedly belonged to an unnamed banned organization, and were wanted by law enforcement in connection with multiple cases.
On Thursday, the ISPR said a successful IBO was conducted in South Waziristan, which resulted in the elimination of nearly a dozen terrorists, including a wanted militant commander and at least two suicide bombers.
After a spate of terror attacks in December last year, which indicated a new phase of extremist militancy haunting Pakistan, the national security committee authorized a 'zero tolerance' policy against terrorists. A proactive approach to preempting terror cells, and coherently building up the capacity as well as capability of civilian law enforcement, seems to be part of this new policy which has been approved by the country's civil-military leadership.
A recently published report states that Pakistan now faces a three-dimensional threat from terror groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Islamic State (ISKP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).