ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s security forces have killed a high-profile militant commander involved in multiple terrorist attacks in the disputed northern region of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) in a shootout on Thursday, top government functionaries said.
Speaking to reporters, GB home minister Shams Lone said it was part of an intelligence-based operation. The shootout, Lone said, continued for several hours and has led to a tense situation in the area.Pakistan has intensified its nationwide operations in response to an increasing militant threat following PM Shehbaz Sharif’s vague announcement of a military offensive against terrorism and extremism after chairing a high-level security meeting.
“Terrorist commander Shah Faisal was killed during an intelligence-based security operation in the Darel valley of GB’s Diamer district, while his accomplice, Zahidullah, was injured,” Lone said. He did not disclose the name of the militant group with which the slain commander was associated but stated he was the mastermind of the terrorist attack in Chilas region last Dec when militants shot up a bus on the Karakoram Highway, killing nine people and injuring 21.
Faizullah Faraq, spokesperson for GB’s administration, said security has been put on high alert on the Karakoram Highway and in Gilgit city after the incident. He said the operation was planned after three facilitators of the militants targeting the bus were arrested and interrogated. They had pointed out the culprits involved in the Chilas attack,” he added.
Speaking to reporters, GB home minister Shams Lone said it was part of an intelligence-based operation. The shootout, Lone said, continued for several hours and has led to a tense situation in the area.Pakistan has intensified its nationwide operations in response to an increasing militant threat following PM Shehbaz Sharif’s vague announcement of a military offensive against terrorism and extremism after chairing a high-level security meeting.
“Terrorist commander Shah Faisal was killed during an intelligence-based security operation in the Darel valley of GB’s Diamer district, while his accomplice, Zahidullah, was injured,” Lone said. He did not disclose the name of the militant group with which the slain commander was associated but stated he was the mastermind of the terrorist attack in Chilas region last Dec when militants shot up a bus on the Karakoram Highway, killing nine people and injuring 21.
Faizullah Faraq, spokesperson for GB’s administration, said security has been put on high alert on the Karakoram Highway and in Gilgit city after the incident. He said the operation was planned after three facilitators of the militants targeting the bus were arrested and interrogated. They had pointed out the culprits involved in the Chilas attack,” he added.
