Security forces kill 27 TTP terrorists in northwest Pakistan

Pakistani security forces killed 27 terrorists in multiple operations over the weekend in the northwest, targeting locations in North Waziristan and Bannu districts.

Pakistani security forces killed 27 terrorists belonging to the banned TTP in multiple operations over the weekend in the country's northwest, officials said on Sunday.

The security forces conducted intelligence-based operations in the North Waziristan and Bannu districts of the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Several terrorist locations were targeted during the operations in the Datta Khel area of the North Waziristan district, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) - the media wing of the Pakistan Army.

''Following intense and fierce exchanges of fire, eleven khawarij belonging to Fitna-al-Khawarij were effectively neutralised,'' the statement added.

''Fitna-al-Khawarij'' is a term the state uses for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the possession of gunned-down terrorists, ISPR said, adding that these assailants were actively involved in numerous disruptive activities in the area.

Earlier this week, the military media wing said security forces had killed 22 terrorists in the district.

In another joint operation on Sunday, police and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) eliminated 16 other terrorists belonging to TTP in the Bannu district.

Among those killed were two prominent TTP commanders, officials said.

Two police officers were also killed in the operation in which several terrorist hideouts were destroyed, they added.

Pakistan has witnessed a surge in terrorist attacks, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, after its ceasefire with the outlawed TTP ended in November 2022, predominantly targeting the police, law enforcement agencies' personnel, and security forces.