Sixteen Khwarij, including two Afghan nationals belonging to the Indian-sponsored Fitna-al-Khwarij, have been killed by security forces in Ali Khel, Mir Ali and Datta Khel areas of North Waziristan District.

According to ISPR, in continuation of series of intelligence based operations being conducted by security forces, multiple Khwarijs' locations were engaged in general area Mir Ali, Datta Khel and surroundings in North Waziristan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Following fierce fire exchanges in last twelve hours, twelve Khwarij, including two Afghan nationals belonging to Indian-sponsored Fitna-al-Khwarij, were killed in Ali Khel, while two Khwarij each were neutralised in Mir Ali and Datta Khel.

During these engagements, two brave sons of soil, Havildar Asmat Ali  of age 43 years, resident of District Swabi and Naik Aftab Ali of age 32 years, resident of District Mardan, who fought gallantly, rendered the ultimate sacrifice and embraced shahadat.

Weapons and ammunition have also been recovered from killed Indian sponsored Khwarij, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities including killing of innocent civilians.

Sanitization operations will continue to eliminate remaining holed up Khwarij from these areas.

The relentless counter-terrorism campaign under vision "Azm-e-Istehkam"  by security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign sponsored terrorism from the country and such sacrifices further strengthen our resolve.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif have commended security forces for the successful killing of 16 terrorists belonging to the Indian-sponsored Fitna-al-Khwarij during intelligence based operations in Mir Ali, Datta Khel and other areas of North Waziristan.

In their separate statements, both leaders paid rich tributes to security forces for their successful operations against terrorism.

The President, in his statement, said the operations under the ongoing Azm-e-Istehkam campaign against foreign-sponsored terrorism would continue with full force until the last terrorist is eliminated.

He said the supreme sacrifices rendered by Havildar Asmat Ali and Naik Aftab Ali, who embraced martyrdom while defending the country, would always be remembered.

The President said the nation salutes its brave sons.

In his statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also paid tributes to Havildar Asmat Ali and Naik Aftab Ali, who laid down their lives in the line of duty.

The Prime Minister extended his condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families.

He reiterated that the war against terrorism would continue until the complete elimination of foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country.