Two soldiers martyred in IED blast

President says martyrs are the benefactors of the nation

RAWALPINDI:

Two soldiers of the Pakistan Army embraced martyrdom in an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion in the General Area Esham of the North Waziristan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Sunday.

The ISPR, the media wing of the military, said that the IED exploded on Saturday, in which Naib Subedar Javed Iqbal (42), a resident of Attock, and Naik Hussain Ahmed (38), a resident of Okara, embraced Shahadat.

The ISPR said that clearance of the area was being carried out to eliminate any terrorists in the area.

Meanwhile, President Arif Alvi expressed his deep grief and sorrow over the martyrdom of the two soldiers.

The president prayed for the high ranks of the departed souls and for the bereaved families to bear the loss with fortitude.

He further observed that the martyrs who laid down their lives for the protection of the motherland had been the benefactors of the nation.

Last week, a Pakistan Army soldier embraced martyrdom while thwarting a terrorist attack from Afghanistan in bordering Dwatoi area of North Waziristan district.

According to ISPR, on September 19, the terrorists from inside Afghanistan opened fire on the Pakistani troops in general area Dwatoi, which was responded in a befitting manner. Quoting credible intelligence reports, the military’s media wing said that terrorists suffered heavy casualties.

The Pakistan Army, the ISPR said, was determined to defend the country’s borders against the menace of terrorism and “such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve”.

On the other hand, on Friday, the security forces killed at least three terrorists in two different operations in K-P’s Lakki Marwat and Swat districts.

On the night of September 22-23, army troops observed and engaged terrorists' movement in general area Sheikh Badin Mountains of Lakki Marwat, ISPR said.

“During exchange of fire, two terrorists got killed. Weapons and ammunition was also recovered from the killed terrorists,” it added.

The slain terrorists remained actively involved in target killings and terrorist activities against security forces, said the military's media wing.

In a separate operation on the night of September 22-23, security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation over suspected presence of a high-profile terrorist in Charbagh area of the Swat district.

“During encounter, the terrorist got killed. Weapon and ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorist. The killed terrorist remained actively involved in terrorist activities against security forces,” ISPR said.