Dera Ismail Khan, 5 January, 2024 (GNP): The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced the success of an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tank district, resulting in the elimination of two terrorists, including the high-value target (HVT) Gul Yousaf Toor.
As per the ISPR statement, security forces launched the operation based on reported terrorist presence, engaging in an intense exchange of fire that led to the elimination of Toor, who was actively involved in multiple terrorist activities.
Toor had orchestrated high-profile terrorist attacks in Tank and Dera Ismail Khan districts, along with engaging in extortion and targeting innocent civilians. He was a highly wanted criminal with a government bounty of Rs2.5 million on his head.
The military highlighted the residents’ support, acknowledging the appreciation for the security forces’ commitment to upholding peace and stability in the region. The ISPR reaffirmed the unwavering determination of Pakistan’s security forces to eradicate terrorism from the country.
Pakistan has faced increased terrorist activities, especially in KP and Balochistan, following the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan’s cessation of the ceasefire with the government in November 2022.
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The nation witnessed a surge in violence, culminating in a tragic attack on December 12, where militants targeted a military compound in Dera Ismail Khan, resulting in the martyrdom of 23 soldiers and injuring over 30.
The Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) annual security report for 2023 highlighted a distressing record of 1,524 violence-related fatalities and 1,463 injuries from 789 terror attacks and counter-terror operations.
KP and Balochistan provinces accounted for over 90% of fatalities and 84% of attacks, signifying these regions as primary centers of violence.