DERA BUGTI/ KARACHI/PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army has moved heavy artillery towards the Pak-Afghan border in Chaman and Torkham districts, security officials said on Monday.
The move came two days after the military decimated camps of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) Jamaatul Ahrar (JA) faction on the Torkham border opposite Mohmand and Khyber tribal regions. The group, which claims to be behind the recent wave of terrorist attacks, is holed up in Afghanistan.
Security sources said their forces have resolved to restrict illegal border movement and any attempt to breach border security will be responded to with full force. Security forces have stepped up patrolling in the areas along the Afghan border, while security has been put on high alert in North and South Waziristan agencies.
The stringent border checks were implemented after a week of deadly attacks by terrorists left dozens of people dead and injured in different cities of Pakistan, prompting a pledge of ‘revenge — immediate revenge’ from Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. Security forces have also indefinitely closed the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Separately, at least two terrorists were killed during a search operation in Dera Bugti.
Sources said that FC, peace force and law enforcers are continuing operation against the criminals in Dera Bugti and its adjacent areas following the recent wave of terrorism in the country.
During the search operation, terrorists opened fire on security forces. In retaliatory firing two terrorists were killed while some others managed to escape.
Arms and ammunition have been seized from them.
Some suspicious people were also apprehended during operation in the area and shifted to an undisclosed location.
Meanwhile, at least seven terrorists were killed while one Rangers official was injured during an encounter in the Malir area of Karachi.
Sources said that on a tip, Rangers carried out a search operation in Shah Latif Town. Terrorists opened fire on Rangers. In trade of fire, seven terrorists were killed while one Rangers official sustained injuries.
Rangers’ spokesperson said that all the terrorists were affiliated with a banned outfit.
Separately, law enforcers arrested two alleged facilitators of Hayatabad blast from Darra Adam Khel.
Sources said the arrested persons were traced while following the information collected from their accomplices, who have been arrested on Sunday.
The exact location where the arrest was made not disclosed due to security concern however raids were carried out in FR Kohat and FR Peshawar for the arrest of these persons.
Meanwhile, FC officials defused several explosive devices in Shakas area.
In the wake of the recent terrorist attacks, security has been put on high alert across the province and FATA.
Meanwhile, 538 suspects were arrested in search operations in Peshawar, Bannu, Swabi, Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
According to reports, among them two hundred and forty-four suspects were arrested during search operations in different areas of Swabi. The arrested people also include fifteen facilitators of terrorists.
While forty-eight suspects were arrested in Mardan and Bannu on Monday.
According to details, twenty-four suspects were arrested in Sheikh Maltoon area of Mardan and the same number in Bannu. Arms and ammunition were also recovered from them.
Eighty-six suspects, including Afghan nationals, were arrested during search operations in Rawalpindi. Police, Rangers and other security forces personnel took part in the operations.
Meanwhile, ASF arrested two suspects from Lahore airport. They were spotted involved in dubious movements near runway. They have been shifted to an undisclosed location for interrogation.
