RAWALPINDI: Security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Muzak village, on the outskirts of Mir Ali, North Waziristan, targeting terrorist hideouts established inside mosques, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Monday.
During the operation, security forces cleared two mosques that were desecrated and being used as shelter by terrorists, recovering a large cache of prepared IEDs, explosives, weapons and ammunition.
According to an ISPR statement, Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists had deliberately established hideouts inside mosques to store explosives and were also operating torture cells there.
The statement said the desecration of places of worship by Indian-sponsored Fitna al Khawarij — the term the state uses to describe the TTP — was further evidence of their disregard for the fundamental teachings of Islam.
It added that the terrorists, allegedly supported by the Afghan Taliban, had nothing to do with Islam and that their distorted interpretation and misuse of the religion were unacceptable.
A sanitisation operation was underway to eliminate any other Indian-sponsored terrorist hideouts in the area, the statement said.
It added that the counterterrorism campaign under the vision of Azm-i-Istehkam, approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, would continue at full pace to eliminate foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country.
President lauds security forces
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday paid tribute to security forces for conducting a successful intelligence-based operation (IBO) against terrorist hideouts in the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan.
The president commended the professional competence of security forces and their success in recovering explosives, weapons and ammunition from terrorist hideouts established inside mosques, according to a statement issued by the Presidency.
President Zardari said using mosques to store explosives and as centres of violence was a blatant violation of the fundamental teachings of Islam.
He added that the desecration of sacred places and their exploitation for nefarious purposes by terrorists were condemnable.
The president said terrorist elements operating with the support of the Afghan Taliban had no connection with Islam, adding that their distorted interpretation and misuse of religion were unacceptable.
“The terrorist activities of Fitna al Khawarij and the desecration of mosques are clear evidence of their anti-Islamic agenda,” the president said.
Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2026
