Security forces killed 13 Fitna Al Khawarij terrorists in two separate intelligence-based operations on January 13-14 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military’s media wing said on Thursday.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), in the first operation, conducted in Bannu district on a reported terrorist presence, troops effectively engaged the hideout. After an intense exchange of fire, eight India-backed terrorists were killed.

In a second operation in the Kurram district, security forces neutralised five more Khawarij terrorists during a firefight.

The ISPR said sanitisation operations were underway in both areas to eliminate any remaining militants.

It said Pakistan’s security forces and law enforcement agencies would continue their counter-terrorism campaign at full pace under the vision of “Azm-e-Istehkam,” approved by the Federal Apex Committee under the National Action Plan.

The armed forces remain determined “to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country” and will respond decisively to any threat to national security, the statement added.