According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), troops engaged a militant hideout in Bajaur district during an IBO, where an intense exchange of fire led to the killing of one kharji terrorist.

Two more khawarij were eliminated in Spinwam and Zakir Khel in North Waziristan during separate intelligence-driven operations.

Another terrorist was shot dead in Dera Ismail Khan in a separate encounter, ISPR said.

The statement added that the militants were part of India-backed Fitna al Khawarij terrorist networks responsible for recent attacks in Bajaur, North Waziristan and parts of southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Security forces recovered weapons, ammunition and explosives from the sites. A sanitisation operation is underway to track down any remaining militants in the area.

“Sanitisation operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian sponsored kharji found in the area,” it added.

The army vowed to continue a relentless counterterrorism campaign, along with law enforcement agencies, under the vision of “Azm-e-Istehkam” at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country.