PESHAWAR: Seven terrorists were killed and six others critically injured in an exchange of fire with security forces in Khyber Pakhtun­khwa’s Chitral district, the military said on Sunday.

The clash occurred in the Ursoon area on Sat­urday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. “Own troops effectively engaged terrorists’ location and after an intense exchange of fire, seven terrorists were killed, while another six were critically injured,” it said.

Security forces were com­bing the area for more terrorists, it said, adding: “Locals of the area appreciated the operation by the security forces and expre­ssed their full support to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country.”

The operation came after several militants equipped with the latest weapons attacked two Pakistani military posts located near the border with Afghanistan in the Kalash area of Chitral district on Wednesday.

“Terrorists’ movement and concentration in Gawardesh, Pitigal, Barg-i-Matel, and Batash areas of Nuristan and Kunar provinces of Afghanistan had already been picked up and were timely shared with the interim Afghan government,” the ISPR said in a statement after Wednesday’s attacks, adding that forces were on alert due to the threat of attack.

“The valiant soldiers fought bravely and repulsed the attacks, inflicting heavy casualties to the terrorists,” it said, adding that 12 militants were killed and “a large number has been critically injured”.

The ISPR said the interim Afghan government was expected to fulfil its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by militants for acts of terrorism against Pakistan.

The outlawed TTP reportedly claimed respo­nsibility for the attacks through its spokesperson, Mohammad Khorasani.

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2023