By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – Pakistan TTP Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan on Sunday announced ceasefires during Eid religious festivities.
The announcement came after heavy losses incurred by the banned outfit during an Intelligence-Based Operation in Mardan district of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Muhammad Khorasani, the spokesperson of the TTP, aka Pakistani Taliban issued a single-liner statement, announcing a ceasefire during Eid-ul-Fitr.
“Announcement of ceasefire during Eid-ul-Fitr,” read a statement issued by the TTP spokesperson.
The statement came hours after the Pakistani military conducted an intelligence-based operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province’s Babuzai, Mardan district.
Media reported that 25 militants of the TTP were killed in the operation where they had set up hideouts in the Katlang mountains range.
Locals claimed that those killed were shepherds of Swat, and the Swat-Mardan motorway was closed for a period of time in protest.
The bodies have been handed over to the Rescue Services 1122 for DNA tests, these include two women and seven men.
They added that the protests ended after some time and the roads were reopened.
Sources in the counter-terrorism department in the Mardan Katlang confirmed the operation targeted militant hideouts, stating that civilian lives were also lost in the operation, including women and children, who he said were caught in the crossfire.
Barrister Saif, spokesperson for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government said “The operation has resulted in the targeting of wanted terrorists involved in terrorist activities locally,”.
It noted that TTP has been carrying out major attacks on Pakistani security forces, keeping the security forces on their heels.
TTP announced its spring offensive during February, after which a massive surge in targeted attacks has been witnessed on security check posts, military installations and convoys of security personnel.
Pakistan has faced major resistance from the TPP and other militant groups like the BLA (Baloch Liberation Army) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan province.
Islamabad has accused Afghanistan of supporting and providing breeding space for anti-Pakistan terror groups.
Pakistan authorities called on the Afghan Taliban to take immediate steps against such elements and abide by its agreement to not allow its soil to be used by terrorists to carry out their activities across the border.
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