Pakistan’s security forces killed five militants during an intelligence-based operation in Lakki Marwat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday, the military’s media wing said.
In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the operation was launched after intelligence reports about the presence of militants linked to a group described by the state as “Fitna al-Khawarij”.
Authorities use the term for members of the banned militant organisation Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
According to the statement, security personnel engaged the militants at their hideout, triggering a fierce exchange of fire in which five militants were killed.
Officials said weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants, who were allegedly involved in several terrorist activities in the area.
The military added that a clearance operation is underway to locate and eliminate any remaining militants in the region. It reiterated that Pakistan’s security forces and law enforcement agencies will continue their counterterrorism campaign under the framework of Azm-i-Istehkam to eliminate foreign-backed militancy from the country.
The latest operation follows a series of actions against militants in Lakki Marwat. Two days earlier, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) killed six militants during a similar intelligence-based operation in the district, while four militants were also eliminated in another operation earlier in the week.
