Seven terrorists were killed in the Eidak area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan district during an intelligence-based operation (IBO), state media reported on Friday, citing security sources.

“Security forces pursued the terrorists of Fitna al Khawarij with determination and combat skills and destroyed their hideouts,” Radio Pakistan said. Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

President Asif Ali Zardari lauded security forces for the successful operation, a statement issued by his office said.

“Under the Azm-i-Istehkam initiative, the efforts of the security forces to completely eliminate terrorism and establish lasting peace are commendable,” the president was quoted as saying.

KP has been witnessing terrorist attacks and security challenges for a long time. The province, excluding the merged districts, recorded 54 terrorist attacks in August compared with 36 in July, representing an increase of 50 per cent, according to data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).

On September 30, security forces killed three terrorists in an IBO in KP’s Mir Ali. A day before that, in an IBO in KP’s Bara area, security forces killed five terrorists. On Monday, four terrorists were killed during an IBO in Dera Ismail Khan.

Last week, a dozen people lost their lives while 35 others were injured in a suicide blast that targeted the Aman Mela police checkpost in DI Khan’s Darazinda tehsil.

On Sept 18, a major attack in the old Police Lines in KP’s Kohat claimed 23 lives and injured about 100 others. Eight terrorists were killed during an overnight clearance operation.

On Sept 17, security forces killed 10 terrorists in separate operations in KP between Sept 15 and 17. Earlier in the month, over 20 terrorists were killed during multiple engagements in KP between Sept 3 and 5.