Brigadier martyred in Angoor Adda encounter

Two among seven of ISI officer’s team members critically injured


Our Correspondent March 21, 2023
Brigadier Mustafa Kamal Barki and his team put up a valiant resistance against the terrorists during the encounter and the officer sacrificed his life for peace of the motherland. PHOTO: ISPR

RAWALPINDI:

A high-ranking Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) officer embraced martyrdom while seven others were injured, including two critically, in an encounter with terrorists in the northwestern region of the country on Tuesday.

The region has seen a resurgence of terrorist attacks since late last year, including a deadly bombing of a mosque in the city of Peshawar in which nearly 100 people, mostly policemen, were martyred.

According to a statement issued by the military’s media wing, Brigadier Mustafa Kamal Barki encountered hardcore terrorists in the Angoor Adda locality of South Waziristan, a mountainous region that borders Afghanistan and has long been a hotbed of militants.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that Brigadier Barki and his team put up a valiant resistance against the terrorists during the encounter and the officer sacrificed his life for peace of the motherland.

“Intense firing was exchanged with terrorists and two of Brigadier Barki's team members are in critical condition.”

No group has claimed responsibility. Most attacks in the region have been claimed by the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

"[The] defence forces of Pakistan and intelligence agencies pledge to reaffirm and demonstrate firm resolve to eliminate the menace of terrorism from every inch of the country," it added.

Brigadier Barki was instrumental in locating and eradicating terrorists responsible for vicious assaults in Pakistan, including the Army Public School (APS) attack in Peshawar.

He received his commission in the esteemed Frontier Force Regiment of Pakistan on October 12, 1995. The martyred officer is survived by his spouse, daughter, and son.

The nation mourns the loss of their fallen hero, as he is honoured for his bravery and sacrifice.

Pakistan's security forces have conducted numerous operations against terrorism across the country, not only arresting terrorists and their facilitators but also foiling several attacks during the last three months.

Brigadier Barki is the second most high-ranking ISI official who embraced martyrdom.

In January, two ISI officials — Director Naveed Sadiq Sial and Inspector Nasir Abbas — were martyred in a gun attack at a roadside restaurant in the Pirowal area of Khanewal.

A little-known terrorist group calling itself Lashkar-e-Khorasan had immediately claimed responsibility, but the TTP later claimed that the deadly attack was carried out by its “secret squad”.Separately, three soldiers of Pakistan Army embraced martyrdom when terrorists opened fire on a police check post in the general area Khutti in K-P’s Dera Ismail Khan district, the ISPR said in a statement.

According to the ISPR, the security forces immediately cordoned off the area and blocked all possible escape routes.

It said that the fleeing terrorists were intercepted in the Saggu area of the district. After an intense exchange of fire, three terrorists were killed, and weapons and ammunition were recovered from them.

During the intense exchange of fire, 42-year-old Havaldar Muhammad Azhar Iqbal from Lodhran, 34-year-old Naik Muhammad Asad from Khanewal, and 22-year-old Sepoy Muhammad Essa from South Waziristan fought bravely but were martyred.

The ISPR added that the area is being sanitised to eliminate any remaining terrorists. "Pakistan Army remains determined to eradicate terrorism, and the sacrifices of our brave soldiers strengthen our resolve," the statement said.

Security forces have killed at least 142 terrorists during the last three months as operations to eliminate terrorism from the country continue. At least 1,007 terrorists were arrested during 6,921 operations by security forces across the country in the last three months.

A total of 1,960 operations were conducted in K-P, of which 1,516 were area-domination operations, 301 were intelligence based operations, and 143 were area-sanitisation operations.

As a result of the operations conducted by the security forces, 98 terrorists were killed and 540 were arrested in K-P.

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