Four security personnel, including a major, were martyred and 13 terrorists killed in two separate encounters in North Waziristan on Thursday, according to the military's media wing and local sources, reads a DAWN report.
In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed that security forces carried out an intelligence-based operation in Mir Ali, where terrorists were reported to be hiding. During the operation, the forces engaged the terrorists' hideout, killing six of them. Major Hamza Israr, 29, from Rawalpindi, embraced martyrdom while "leading his troops from the front."
Sepoy Muhammad Naeem, 26, from Naseerabad, Balochistan, also embraced martyrdom after fighting valiantly in the operation. The ISPR added that a sanitization operation was underway to eliminate any remaining terrorists in the area.
In a separate ambush, two security personnel were martyred and seven terrorists were killed when terrorists ambushed a convoy of security forces traveling from Datta Khel camp to Ghundi post. The ISPR had not issued an official statement on the attack at the time of reporting.
Since the start of January, security forces have launched multiple operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where terror attacks have sharply increased over the past two years. Earlier this week, around 30 terrorists, including two ringleaders, were killed, and eight others were injured during operations targeting terrorist hideouts in Lakki Marwat, Karak, and Khyber districts.
According to military data, 2024 was the deadliest year in a decade for both civil and military casualties, with 444 terror attacks, most of which targeted Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The military conducted more than 179 operations per day last year, resulting in the deaths of numerous high-value targets and most-wanted terrorists.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have paid tribute to Major Israr and Sepoy Naeem, offering heartfelt condolences to their families. In separate statements, both leaders praised the bravery and patriotism of the martyred soldiers. President Zardari expressed sympathy with the families, emphasizing that security forces would continue their operations until terrorism is eradicated. He affirmed that the nation's resolve to eliminate terrorism would remain unwavering.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif promised that the sacrifices of the fallen soldiers would not be in vain and vowed to thwart the intentions of anti-state elements. He assured that the government and security forces would work to completely eradicate terrorism. The prime minister attended Major Israr’s funeral prayers at Chaklala Garrison in Rawalpindi, alongside Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, and Chief of Army Staff Gen. Asim Munir. Following the funeral, Major Israr’s body was transported to his hometown for burial.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
