Mountaintop of strategic value cleared, terrorists eliminated in Operation Khyber-4: ISPR

Published July 22, 2017
Pakistan Army personnel atop Brekh Muhammad Kandao mountain after the operation — ISPR
Pakistan Army personnel atop Brekh Muhammad Kandao mountain after the operation — ISPR

The Pakistan Army has cleared the "highest and craggiest" mountaintop near the Pak-Afghan border, killing "many" terrorists and forcing others to flee to Afghanistan, a statement issued by the army's media wing said Saturday.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said a terrorist hideout was dismantled during the operation at Brekh Muhammad Kandao mountaintop, a part of ongoing Operation Khyber-4 in Khyber Agency.

A cache of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), arms and ammunition was also recovered, ISPR said, adding that troops had established posts at over 12,000 feet after clearing the mountain top.

Brekh Kandao Muhammad mountain near the Pak-Afghan border — ISPR
Brekh Kandao Muhammad mountain near the Pak-Afghan border — ISPR

Army troops including Special Services Group (SSG) commandos took part in the action during which "many terrorists" were killed while some managed to flee to Afghanistan.

"This mountaintop was being used as main observation point and its base as a transit/storage point," ISPR said.

The mountaintop was planned to be cleared a little later as per the initial plan "but with high tempo operation [sic] it has been cleared well ahead of planned timing", the ISPR said.

Khyber-4 seeks to target terrorist hideouts in what the ISPR chief had earlier called "the most critical area in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas".

The operation also seeks to ‘forestall the entry’ of the militant Islamic State (IS) group from across the border into Pakistan.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.