Security forces on Tuesday killed five terrorists in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in North Waziristan, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. Two terrorists were injured in the operation, it said. Forces targeted hideouts of the terrorists, who belonged to Fitna al-Khawarij, according to security sources. Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday commended the security forces for the successful IBO. “The timely and effective actions of the security forces are playing an important role in foiling the nefarious designs of terrorist elements,” President Zardari said in his statement. According to the state broadcaster, PM Shehbaz reaffirmed that operations against terrorism would continue until its complete elimination. He further said that the complete eradication of terrorism and sustainable peace under Azm-i-Istehkam vision was the government’s top priority. 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 October 2, security forces killed seven terrorists in an IBO in North Waziristan. 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. On Sept 26, 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 that month, over 20 terrorists were killed during multiple engagements in KP between Sept 3 and 5.