Freedom isn't free, it costs sons of the soil: COAS on North Waziristan attack

Second Lt Abdul Moeed and Sepoy Basharat, both 21, lost their lives as terrorists attacked army vehicle

PESHAWAR: A young officer and a soldier of Pakistan Army were martyred on Tuesday after terrorists opened fire on their vehicle in North Waziristan, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

The terrorists fired from the surrounding mountains in Ali Khel area of the tribal agency, said the military’s media wing, adding that Second Lieutenant Abdul Moeed and Sepoy Basharat, both 21, lost their lives in the incident of firing.

Second Lieutenant Abdul Moeed had recently passed out from the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA). He hailed from Burewala, Vehari. Sepoy Basharat, from Danyor village, Gilgit, had been serving in the military for three years.

Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa paid tributes to the brave soldiers.



“Freedom isn’t free, it costs sons of the soil. Freedom that we enjoy today is owed to so many such brave hearts. Salute to our Martyrs,” Gen Bajwa was quoted by ISPR chief Major General Asif Ghafoor as saying.

"Freedom isn't free, it costs sons of the soil. Freedom that we enjoy today is owed to so many such bravehearts. Salute to our Martyrs"COAS. pic.twitter.com/GVTOnmTrWn

— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) December 12, 2017

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi strongly condemned the attack and extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the departed souls.

“They have sacrificed their most valuable asset for the sake of our homeland. There is nothing material to match up to their sacrifices. As a nation, we will never forget the greatest contributions of our valiant armed forces in the war against the enemies of our country,” he said.

Abbasi stressed that Pakistan, by the grace of Allah, had defeated the monster of terrorism by breaking the backbone of terrorist network across the country. “We have won this war and will, God willing, eliminate the remains very soon”.

North Waziristan remained a hub of local and foreign militants until June 2014, when the Army launched Operation Zarb-e-Azb. The agency has been cleared of militants after the operation, however, sporadic terror attacks on security forces do take place.

The army has also launched developmental works in the agency, enabling most of the temporary displaced persons (TDPs), who left their homes during the operation, to return to their areas.



The latest militant attack on the military comes one week after a motorcycle bomb targeted a military vehicle in Mir Ali town of the agency.

(With additional input from news desk0