Security forces killed 11 terrorists during intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, state media reported on Friday.

State-run Radio Pakistan reported that five Fitna al-Khawarij terrorists had been killed during an IBO in KP’s South Waziristan district.

Quoting security sources, the report said that security forces were continuing effective operations against Fitna al-Khawarij in KP under the Azm-i-Istehkam vision.

The state uses the term Fitna-al-Khawarij for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and has designated Balochistan-based groups as Fitna-al-Hindustan to highlight India’s alleged role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan.

“The security forces targeted and destroyed the hideouts of Fitna al Khawarij during the successful operation, killing five terrorists,” state media said, “A large quantity of weapons and ammunition was also recovered from the killed terrorists.”

“The Fitna al Khawarij terrorists are suffering heavy losses in intelligence-based operations, being conducted in KP,” Radio Pakistan quoted the security sources as saying.

“Security forces are committed to completely eliminate the menace of terrorism and ensure sustainable peace in the country under the Azm-i-Istehkam vision,” the security sources said.

In a separate operation, PTV News reported that security forces killed six terrorists in the Gorander and Mashkel areas of Balochistan during an operation.

“Security forces continue effective operations against Fitna al Hindustan under Operation Raddul Fitna 3,” the report said, quoting the security sources.

State media, citing security sources, said that the terrorists belonging to Fitna al Hindustan attempted to flee after opening fire on a security checkpost in Mashkel.

“Security forces responded promptly and killed the fleeing terrorists,” according to security sources.

“Security forces remain determined under the Azm-i-Istehkam vision to completely eliminate the scourge of terrorism from across the country,” the security sources affirmed.

KP has been witnessing terrorist attacks and security challenges for a long time. The province, excluding the merged districts, recorded 54 terrorist attacks in August compared with 36 in July, representing an increase of 50 per cent, according to data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).

On September 30, security forces killed three terrorists in an IBO in KP’s Mir Ali. A day before that, in an IBO in KP’s Bara area, security forces killed five terrorists. On Monday, four terrorists were killed during an IBO in Dera Ismail Khan.

Last week, a dozen people lost their lives while 35 others were injured in a suicide blast that targeted the Aman Mela police checkpost in DI Khan’s Darazinda tehsil.

On Sept 18, a major attack in the old Police Lines in KP’s Kohat claimed 23 lives and injured about 100 others. Eight terrorists were killed during an overnight clearance operation.

On Sept 17, security forces killed 10 terrorists in separate operations in KP between Sept 15 and 17. Earlier in the month, over 20 terrorists were killed during multiple engagements in KP between Sept 3 and 5.