A Pakistan Army captain and soldier embraced martyrdom during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Hassan Khel area of Peshawar in which five terrorists were also killed, the military’s media wing on Sunday said.
According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the security forces conducted the IBO after learning about the presence of terrorists.
“During conduct of the operation, our troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location, as result of which five [of them] were sent to hell while three … got injured,” it added.
The statement noted that during the intense exchange of fire, Captain Hussain Jahangir – aged 25 and a resident of Rahim Yar Khan district – made the ultimate sacrifice while leading his troops from the front.
Havildar Shafiqullah – aged 36 and a resident of Karak district – was also martyred while fighting gallantly.
Captain Jahangir, who served in the army for four years, left behind his grieving parents and siblings.
Havildar Shafiqullah, who dedicated 18 years to defending the nation, left behind his wife, two daughters, and a son.
“[A] sanitisation operation is being carried out to eliminate any terrorists found in the area,” the ISPR said.
“[The] security forces of Pakistan are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve.”
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The funeral prayer for Captain Jahangir and Havildar Shafiqullah was offered at the Peshawar Garrison.
According to the ISPR, the Peshawar corps commander along with other army officers and soldiers, as well as the civil authorities and public participated in the funeral prayer.
It continued that the bodies of the martyrs had been sent to their native areas, where they would be buried with full military honours.
In a message, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the security forces for their successful operation against terrorists in Peshawar.
He also offered his heartfelt condolences to the families of Captain Jahangir and Havildar Shafiqullah.
The premier prayed to the Almighty to elevate the ranks of the martyrs in paradise.
He noted that the soldiers of the security forces had carried out a successful operation against the terrorists by putting their lives at risk.
Paying tribute to the martyrs, PM Shehbaz said: “We salute them for their bravery. The entire nation is proud of its brave forces.”
On May 14, the army's media wing said an army officer sacrificed his life leading a successful IBO in Balochistan's Zhob district, eliminating three terrorists.
On April 18, unidentified gunmen ambushed a team of Customs Intelligence officials in the Dera Ismail Khan district, martyring five officials and two civilians, including a five-year-old girl, before escaping from the scene.
The ISPR also released a statement on April 13 confirming that two soldiers embraced martyrdom during an IBO conducted in the Buner district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
(With input from our correspondent in Islamabad)
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