LAHORE/PESHAWAR: Around 130 terrorists were killed and over 350 people arrested in Pakistan as part of a crackdown by security forces after a series of suicide bombings were conducted in the country. Sources said that a high-value target known for recruiting terrorists and training suicide bombers, Rehmad Baba, was also gunned down. They said that about 12 terror sanctuaries, including a weapon depot camp of Jammat-ul-Ahra's commander Wali, were also pounded by the forces.
Eleven Afghan terrorists were killed in a gunbattle, at Sapperkot and Para Chamkani in Kurram Agency. Punjab police spokesman Niyab Haider said, "More than 350 suspects have been taken into custody, mostly Afghans since Monday. During Saturday and Sunday, 200 people, mostly Afghan and Pashtoon, have been held as they did not have identification papers. Police have also arrested those who had given them their houses on rent." Also, an imminent attack on a shrine in Multan resulted in the killing of five terrorists belonging to Jamaat-ul-Ahar group.
The country-wide crackdown came a day after an Islamic State bomber killed nearly 80 pilgrims at Pakistan's most famous Sufi shrine in Sindh. The attack on the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, is said to be one of the deadliest ever in the country, and came after several other extremist strikes earlier in the week despite the army's ongoing offensive against militants. After the attack on the 13th century shrine, army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa pledged, "Each drop of the nation's blood shall be avenged, and avenged immediately. No more restraint for anyone."
An official release stated that 13 terrorists were killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the northwest. Four, in Lower Orakzai, and 11 in Karachi. Government said weapons and hand grenades were found on the slain terrorists, and that several suspects were also arrested. Many believed the move was predictable. "When you (army) have information about the presence of terrorists, why don't you act before they strike?" asked security analyst, Mazhar Abbas.
A total of eight terror attacks were organised since February 13. Thirteen were killed in Karachi, and over 70 injured when a bomb ripped through a rally on Mall Road in Lahore. Last week, two members of a bomb disposal squad were killed trying to dismantle a bomb in Quetta, and the next day, five were killed when a suicide bomber struck in Mohmand tribal region. The same day, a suicide attack on a court van killed its driver and injured four judges. Most of these attacks were carried out by JuA, a banned group associated to Pakistani Taliban.
In retaliation, the military launched a search-and-strike operation in Khyber Agency's Shalman, near the Pak-Afghan border, using heavy artillery. Of the 100-odd militants killed, 46 were accounted for, as informed by the army's Inter-Services Public Relations release. Paramilitary Sindh Rangers claimed to have killed 18 terrorists in overnight operations in the province.
