Three army officers, one soldier martyred in Waziristan IED attack

Four others suffer injuries; ISPR says terrorists targeted military vehicle in Kharqamar area

ISLAMABAD:

Three Pakistan Army officers and one soldier were martyred and four others injured in a roadside blast in Kharqamar area of North Waziristan district on Friday.

According to the military’s media wing, terrorists targeted a military vehicle using an improvised explosive device (IED). The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said three officers and a soldier embraced martyrdom in the attack.

The officers were identified as Lt Col Raashid Karim Baig, a resident of Karimabad, Hunza; Major Moeez Maqsood Baig, a resident of Karachi and Captain Arif Ullah, a resident of Lakki Marwat. Lance Havaldar Zaheer, a resident of Chakwal, was also martyred in the explosion.

The attack was carried out in the same area where security forces had conducted search operations in which a few individuals believed to be facilitators linked to terrorist activities were rounded up.

Ten security personnel have embraced martyrdom in the last one month in different attacks including the latest casualties and 35 others suffered injuries. Last Saturday, a soldier was martyred when a Pakistan Army vehicle was attacked in the Boyya area of North Waziristan.

Pakistan Army soldier martyred in North Waziristan attack

According to the ISPR, the vehicle came under direct fire and was also targeted by an IED while conducting a routine security patrol in the area. Sepoy Amil Shah embraced martyrdom in the attack.

On April 29, a security official was martyred in the Datta Khel area of North Waziristan after unidentified men opened fire on a security check post. The military’s media wing said that the facilitators arrested by the forces were linked to the terrorist activities that led to the Kharqamar post incident on 25 May.

PM condemns attack

Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the attack on military personnel in Kharqamar and offered his condolences to the families of martyrs. He also prayed for the early recovery of the army personnel injured in the blast.

The premier paid tribute to the forces for their sacrifices and noted that some anti-state elements were inciting the residents of tribal districts to violence. However, he added, the state would not allow these elements to succeed in their nefarious designs.