18 terrorists killed as forces foil suicide attack on camp in Mir Ali, conduct IBOs

MIRANSHAH/LAKKI MARWAT/KHAR: Security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa foiled a terrorist attack on their camp in Mir Ali area of North Waziristan, killing four militants, including a suicide bomber, while in separate intelligence-based operations (IBOs), six militants were killed in Dattakhel, North Waziristan, and eight more were eliminated in Lakki Marwat.

According to security sources, militants attempted a suicide attack on a security forces camp in Mir Ali. One militant rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the camp wall, causing an explosion, while three others tried to enter the camp.

The troops responded swiftly, killing all three attackers outside the perimeter. No damage or casualties were reported among the security forces. In another operation, security forces conducted an IBO in the Tang Kali area of Dattakhel, killing six militants, including their head, Mehboob alias Muhammad. Security sources said the operation followed intelligence reports about militant movement in the surrounding areas. The forces kept the area under surveillance for eight to 10 days before launching the operation on October 16, during which six militants were killed and three others injured in the exchange of fire.

Security sources added that the operation was part of the ongoing efforts to eliminate anti-state elements and ensure peace in the region.

Meanwhile, in Bajaur, security forces seized a vehicle loaded with hundreds of kilograms of explosives belonging to the so-called Fitna al-Khawarij group.

According to security sources, the militants had planned to detonate the vehicle in a civilian area. The security personnel destroyed the vehicle safely, preventing any loss of life or property.

The explosives had reportedly been smuggled from Afghanistan along with other goods.

In another success, security forces killed eight militants in Sultankhel area of Lakki Marwat. Acting on intelligence reports about the presence of Khawarij linked to the Afghan Taliban’s proxy network, the forces launched aerial and ground surveillance in Sultankhel and Tofan Wala.

Upon detecting militant movement, a targeted operation was carried out, resulting in the killing of eight terrorists and recovery of a large cache of weapons and explosives.

According to security sources, a total of 102 militants sent by the Afghan Taliban have been killed over the past four days.

Meanwhile, seven Pakistani soldiers were martyred in a suicide attack near the Afghan border, Pakistani security officials told Reuters on Friday, amid a fragile ceasefire between the countries that paused days of intense fighting this month.