At least two soldiers of the Pakistan Army were killed in an exchange of fire with terrorists during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Buner district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Buner is about three hours drive from Islamabad.
In 2009, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan was ruled by a civilian administration led by the Awami National Party (ANP). During this time, the military conducted a large-scale operation called Operation Rah-e Rast, to eradicate the Taliban from the region. The operation aimed to cleanse Buner and neighbouring districts of Swat, Shangla, Dir, and Malakand, collectively known as Malakand Division. The offensive resulted in the displacement of over 3 million residents, mostly Pashtuns, from Buner and Swat.
In 2019, the Taliban have returned to the same northwestern region in Pakistan where a major military offensive was launched a decade ago. The military operation aimed to end years of insurgent control and resulted in the death of thousands while displacing millions. Despite the operation, the Taliban has managed to reestablish their presence in the region.
According to a statement by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on April 13, at least one terrorist was also killed and two others were injured in the skirmish.
During the operation, an intense exchange of fire took place between the troops.
Earlier, security forces killed two terrorists in an IBO in the North Waziristan district, while a police officer was martyred in an armed attack on a police check post in Buner.
The military media wing said forces conducted an IBO in North Waziristan.
The ISPR said that the leader of the dead terrorists, Ayubullah alias Mansoor, was among the dead. It added that the terrorists were involved in target killing, extortion and kidnapping of civilians in the area. Arms and ammunition were also recovered from their possession.
April 14, 2024
Source: Express Tribune