Eight terrorists killed in K-P operations

Captain, soldier martyred in Bannu, Khyber ops, 11 terrorists injured in exchange of fire

PAKISTAN:

Two security personnel, including an officer, embraced martyrdom while fighting terrorists in separate operations in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) over the past 48 hours in which eight terrorists were also killed, the military said on Sunday.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operations were carried out in Bannu and Khyber districts between 29 November and 1 December 2024. It said that the dead terrorists were involved in numerous terrorist activities against the security forces and civilians.

"An intelligence based operation was conducted in the general area Baka Khel, Bannu district on reported presence of khwarij," the ISPR said in a statement. "Own troops effectively engaged the khwarij location and resultantly killed five khwarij, while nine khwarij got injured," it added.

However, during the operation, Sepoy Iftikhar Hussain, having fought gallantly, embraced Shahadat, the ISPR said. The 29-year-old Sepoy Iftikhar Hussain hailed from the Jhang district of Punjab, the ISPR statement said.

In another operation in the general area Shagai, in Khyber district, "three Khwarij were sent to hell, while two were apprehended by the security forces". During intense fire exchange, Captain Muhammad Zohaib Ud Din, was martyred, according to the statement.

"Captain Muhammad Zohaibuddin (Age: 25 years, resident of: District Lahore), who was leading his troops from the front, fought bravely, paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced shahadat," the ISPR statement said.

"Sanitisation operations are being conducted to eliminate any other kharji found in the area as security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve," the ISPR stated.

Martyred Captain Muhammad Zohaibuddin and Sepoy Iftikhar Hussain Shaheed were laid to rest in their ancestral towns after their funeral prayers in Peshawar and Bannu Garrison, the ISPR said in a separate statement.

The funeral prayers were attended by Lt-Gen Omar Ahmed Bukhari, Corps Commander, Peshawar, along with senior military officials and soldiers. Captain Zohaibuddin Shaheed and Sepoy Iftikhar Hussain Shaheed were laid to rest with full military honours in their native areas, it added.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended the funeral prayer of Captain Muhammed Zohaib-ud-Din Shaheed. The funeral prayer was attended by Corps Commander Lahore Lt. General Syed Aamer Raza, senior civil and military officials, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release. The PM met with the family of shaheed captain and expressed his condolence. He paid tribute to the shaheed captain who had fought valiantly with Khawarij terrorists, adding that the entire nation was proud of his sacrifice and saluted him.

President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the security forces for their successful operations in Bannu and Khyber districts and commended their bravery, while "eliminating eight Khawarij terrorists and arresting 11 injured" in two separate operations.

In their separate statements, the president and the prime minister paid tributes to Shaheed Captain Muhammad Zohaibuddin and soldier Iftikhar Hussain, who were martyred during the operations, and acknowledged their sacrifices.

According to the President Secretariat Press Wing, Zardari emphasised that the sacrifices of the martyrs for the country's security would not go in vain and that the entire nation would remember the sacrifices of those who laid down their lives for the motherland.

He reiterated the commitment to continue operations against the terrorists till the eradication of this menace and assured the nation that they would stand with their brave security forces in the fight against terrorism.

A separate statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office Media Wing stated that Shehbaz vowed to continue the fight against terrorism till the complete eradication of this menace from the country. He said that army jawans protected the country from its enemies without caring for their own lives.

The prime minister said that the nation was proud of the brave officers and soldiers of the Pakistan Army, adding that the nation could never forget the sacrifices of its martyrs. He added the nefarious designs of the terrorists and enemies of the country to spread chaos in Pakistan would never succeed.

"The brave and courageous young men who sacrificed their future for this country and their families, filled with the spirit of sacrifice, are the pride of the entire Pakistani nation," he observed. "The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the armed forces in this fight against terrorism."

(With input from APP)