According to the ISPR, the IBO was launched in the Jamal Maya area on the reported presence of India-sponsored terrorist groups, Fitna al-Khawarij.

In a statement, the ISPR said, “Security forces have been conducting a series of retribution operations against the kharijis involved in [the] heinous incident that occurred in Orakzai District on October 7, resulting in the shahadat of brave sons of soil, including Lieutenant Colonel Junaid Tariq and Major Tayyab Rahat.”

It added that during the operation, “all 30 India-sponsored khwarij involved in the terrorist incident have been sent to hell” after an intense exchange of fire.

“These successful operations have avenged the heinous act and have brought the main perpetrators to justice,” the statement said.

It said sanitisation operations were underway to “hunt and eliminate any other India-sponsored khariji found in the area, as the security forces of Pakistan are determined and remain steadfast to eradicate and wipe out the menace of India-sponsored terrorism from the country”.

Two days earlier, an earlier engagement in the same region had left 11 security personnel martyred, while forces killed 19 militants in immediate retaliation.

National leadership pays tribute

President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi paid rich tribute to the fallen soldiers and praised the forces’ swift response.

President Zardari said the sacrifices of Lieutenant Colonel Junaid Tariq and Major Tayyab Rahat, and other martyrs, would always be remembered.

PM Shehbaz said the armed forces had shattered the network of India-backed Khawarij and made the nation proud.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi lauded the troops for defending the homeland at great personal risk, vowing that the nation would never allow the “nefarious designs of terrorists” to succeed.