Bannu
\nPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed on Saturday to continue responding to terrorism in the country with \u201cfull force\u201d after 19 soldiers were martyred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.
\nThe Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) earlier said that 12 soldiers were martyred while security forces killed 13 terrorists during an intense fire exchange in KP\u2019s South Waziristan district. It added that the 13 terrorists were among 35 \u201ckhwarij belonging to Indian proxy Fitna al Khwarij\u201d killed in two separate engagements from September 10 to 13. It later said seven more soldiers were martyred on Thursday in Lower Dir.
\nThe state uses the term Fitna al Khwarij to refer to terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). It has also designated Balochistan-based groups as Fitna-al-Hindustan to highlight India\u2019s alleged role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan.
\nRadio Pakistan reported that PM Shehbaz and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir later visited Bannu and attended a high-level meeting on counter-terrorism. It added that they also participated in the funeral prayers of the South Waziristan operation martyrs.
\n\u201cThe prime minister reaffirmed that Pakistan\u2019s response to terrorism will continue with full force and made it clear that no ambiguity or compromise will be tolerated. He said terrorist leaders and facilitators responsible for attacks in Pakistan are operating from Afghan soil with the backing of India.
\n\u201cThe prime minister stated that the Afghan interim government has been clearly told to choose between supporting the khwarij or stand with Pakistan. He highlighted the involvement of infiltrated Afghan nationals in terrorist incidents and stressed the urgent need for the repatriation of illegal Afghan residents currently living in Pakistan,\u201d the report stated.
\nThe prime minister further said that Pakistan rejected \u201cpoliticisation and misleading narratives\u201d on the issue of terrorism.
\nPM Shehbaz warned that \u201canyone facilitating or advocating\u201d for terrorists or \u201cacting as proxies for India\u201d was essentially their agent and would be \u201cdealt with accordingly\u201d.
\nThe report said the prime minister praised the \u201cunity and resilience\u201d of the nation, particularly the people of KP, for \u201cstanding like Banyanum Marsoos (a wall fortified with lead) with the state and armed forces against the Indian proxies\u201d.
\nThe premier affirmed that the government would immediately implement all necessary administrative and legal measures to ensure a more effective response to terrorism.
\nThe report said PM Shehbaz and Field Marshal Munir also visited the injured at Bannu Combined Military Hospital. They also received a detailed briefing on the regional security situation by the Peshawar Corps commander.
\nPakistan has lately been witnessing an uptick in terrorist activities, mainly in KP and Balochistan. In November 2022, the TTP, after breaking a ceasefire deal with the government, had vowed to escalate attacks against the security forces, the police, and other law enforcement agencies\u2019 personnel.
\nEarlier this month, six soldiers were martyred, while five terrorists were killed as security forces thwarted an attack on the Federal Constabulary (FC) Headquarters in the Bannu district.
\nIn response, the military has intensified its counter-terrorism operations. From September 9 to 10, security forces killed 14 \u201cIndian-sponsored khwarij\u201d in KP\u2019s Mohmand district, four in North Waziristan, and one in Bannu district, according to the ISPR.
\nYesterday, the ISPR said troops had also killed four \u201cIndian-sponsored terrorists\u201d during an IBO in Balochistan\u2019s Mastung.
\nLast month, security forces gunned down 50 terrorists over a four-day operation, foiling an attempt by militants to cross over from Afghanistan into Balochistan.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Bannu Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed on Saturday to continue responding to terrorism in the country with \u201cfull force\u201d after 19 soldiers were martyred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, state-run Radio Pakistan reported. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) earlier said that 12 soldiers were martyred while security forces killed 13 terrorists during an intense fire exchange in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":502680,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-502663","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-top-news"],"yoast_head":"\n