RAWALPINDI: Security forces killed 32 militants during a series of intelligence-based and area-sanitisation operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan over the past 24 hours, the military’s media wing said on Wednesday.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, 24 militants were killed in multiple targeted operations conducted overnight on July 28 and 29 in Khyber district.

ISPR said security personnel identified and engaged several militant locations during the operations. The military described those killed in Khyber as members of the group it refers to as Fitna al-Khwarij.

In a separate set of intelligence-based operations in Nushki district, Balochistan, security forces killed eight militants following an intense exchange of fire, the statement added.

The military identified the Nushki militants as belonging to what it calls Fitna al-Hindustan and alleged that both networks were receiving support from India. New Delhi has previously rejected Pakistani allegations of sponsoring militancy.

Weapons, ammunition and improvised explosive devices were recovered from the sites and later destroyed, according to ISPR.

Security forces continued clearance operations in both areas to locate any remaining militants or facilitators.

The military said the operations formed part of the broader counterterrorism campaign under Azm-e-Istehkam, which was approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan.

ISPR said security forces and law-enforcement agencies would continue operations against foreign-backed militant networks across the country.

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