Soldier martyred in attack on polio team

A soldier embraced martyrdom and another sustained injuries when terrorists attacked a polio vaccination team, while two terrorists were killed in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) by the security forces, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday.

The media wing of the military said that both the incidents occurred in the North Waziristan district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). It added that the attack on the polio team occurred in the Spinwam area, while the IBO was carried out in Dossali.

Terrorists attempted to disrupt the ongoing polio campaign by firing on the members of the polio team. Soldiers protecting the team engaged the terrorists, ensuring the safety of all members and extricating them unharmed, the ISPR said in a press release.

"During ensuing fire exchange between security forces and the terrorists, Sepoy Saqib Ur Rehman (age 25 years, resident of District Mardan) sacrificed his life in the line of duty, embracing Shahadat [martyrdom]," the press release said.

It added that sanitisation of the area was being carried out to eliminate any terrorists found in the area. "Security forces of Pakistan are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve."

In a separate press release, the ISPR said that an intense exchange of fire took place between the security forces and the terrorists during the conduct of the IBO in the general area of Dossali, resulting in the killing of two terrorists.

Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the dead terrorists who remained actively involved in terrorist activities against security forces and killing of innocent citizens, it said, adding that sanitisation of the area was being carried out.

Meanwhile, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari condemned the attack on the polio team and conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the family of the martyred and expressed solidarity with them.

The foreign minister hoped the authorities would swiftly apprehend the terrorists involved in the attack and bring them to justice. “Pakistan is determined to eradicate not only the poliovirus but also uproot elements working against the polio workers,” he said.

Terrorist attacks on polio vaccination workers have been a recurring issue in the north-western parts of Pakistan. The attacks pose a significant threat to the ongoing efforts to eradicate polio from the country.

Pakistan is one of the last countries in the world where polio remains endemic, and the government has been actively working to combat the crippling disease through vaccination campaigns.