7 terrorists, including key leader killed in Tank Operation

Rawalpindi: In a significant security operation, the Pakistan Armed Forces have successfully eliminated seven terrorists, including a high-profile leader of the Kharijite group, in the Tank District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The operation, based on intelligence reports of Kharijite presence, took place on the night of December 17-18.

According to security sources, the operation targeted the notorious Kharijite group, and during the raid, Ali Rahman, also known as Maulana Taha Swati, was killed along with six of his associates. Ali Rahman was a key leader in the Kharijite faction and a close ally of the infamous terror leader, Maulana Fazlullah, who was the head of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Rahman had joined the TTP in 2010 and was a crucial member of the Kharijite leadership.

Security sources confirmed that Rahman was not only a close associate of Fazlullah but also an important member of the Kharijite Shura (council). He was closely linked to another prominent Kharijite leader, Qari Amjad, also known as Mufti Mazahim.

During the operation, one of the terrorists attempted to escape by taking two children hostage and using them as human shields. In a bid to flee, the terrorist dressed as a woman, but thanks to a precise and strategic operation, security forces managed to rescue the children safely and eliminate the terrorist.

Local residents expressed their gratitude and admiration for the military’s professionalism in ensuring the safe return of the children. The security forces also recovered weapons and a vehicle packed with explosives, which were likely intended for a large-scale terrorist attack.

This successful operation is part of a series of ongoing efforts to dismantle the Kharijite and Taliban factions. Security sources have highlighted the deepening alliance between Afghan Taliban elements and the Kharijites, which poses a grave threat to regional and global security.

Read More: 11 terrorists neutralized in KP operations: ISPR

The Pakistan government has repeatedly provided credible evidence to the Afghan interim government regarding these groups, but there has been no significant action taken. The alliance between the Afghan Taliban and Kharijites continues to be a major security concern for Pakistan and the broader region.