In a significant intelligence-based operation (IBO) conducted in Balochistan’s Zhob district, near the Pakistan-Afghan border, security forces successfully eliminated seven terrorists on Monday, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The clash unfolded in Zhob’s Sambaza Sector during the IBO, with an intense gunfight erupting between the security forces and the fleeing terrorists. The ISPR reported that the terrorists, who were actively involved in terrorist activities against security forces and the killing of innocent civilians, were effectively surrounded and engaged. As a result, all seven terrorists were eliminated, and arms, ammunition, and explosives were recovered from the site.
The military’s media wing also disclosed that a sanitization operation is underway to eliminate any remaining terrorists in the area. Emphasizing the commitment to eradicating the menace of terrorism, the ISPR highlighted the determination of Pakistan’s security forces.
This operation comes in the wake of a challenging year, as revealed by the Annual Security Report from the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS). In 2023, Pakistan experienced 1,524 violence-related fatalities and 1,463 injuries from 789 terror attacks and counter-terror operations. The report, released last month, highlighted almost 1,000 fatalities among civilians and security forces personnel.
The overall fatalities, including those of outlaws, reached a record six-year high, surpassing the 2018 level and marking the highest since 2017. The country witnessed a surge in violence for the third consecutive year, with an increase recorded annually since 2021. The security forces’ recent success in Zhob reflects their ongoing efforts to address the escalating security challenges and combat terrorism in the region.
