Three soldiers martyred in K-P IBOs

19 terrorists also neutralised; President, PM praise bravery of security forces

RAWALPINDI:

Three soldiers were martyred, fighting terrorists in different engagements in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), in which security forces killed 19 terrorists, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Tuesday.

The ISPR, the media wing of the military, said that the terrorists were killed in three separate engagements in the Matani area of the Peshawar district, the Baizai area of the Mohmand district and the Karak district.

"On 6-7 January 2025, Nineteen Khwarij were sent to hell in three separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province," the statement said, referring to the terrorists belonging to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

"On reported presence of Khwarij, an intelligence-based operation [IBO] was conducted by the Security Forces in general area Matani, Peshawar District. During the conduct of operation, own troops effectively engaged the khwarij location and resultantly, eight khwarij were sent to hell," it said.

Another IBO was conducted in general area Baizai, in Mohmand district. In which eight terrorists were "effectively engaged and neutralised" by the security forces. In the third engagement in Karak district, "own troops effectively engaged khwarij location, as a result of which three khwarij were sent to hell".

However, during an intense fire exchange, the ISPR stated, three brave troops, Lance Havaldar Abbas Ali, 38, resident of Ghizer; Naik Muhammad Nazir, 37, resident of Skardu district; and Naik Muhammad Usman, 37, resident of Attock district, "having fought gallantly… and embraced Shahadat".

According to the statement, sanitisation operations were being conducted to eliminate any other terrorists 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".

President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, meanwhile, lauded the security forces for eliminating 19 terrorists during three separate operations in K-P. They paid glowing tributes to the three brave soldiers, who embraced martyrdom during these operations.

The president and the prime minister sent their condolences to the families of Lance Havaldar Abbas Ali, Naik Muhammad Nazir, and Naik Muhammad Usman, and prayed for the elevation of the martyrs' ranks and patience for their families.

The president reaffirmed the commitment to completely eliminating the menace of terrorism from the country. He said that the security forces were carrying out the operations to eradicate the scourge of terrorism, adding that the entire nation was united against this menace.

"Operations against Fitna al-Khwarij will continue till its complete eradication," President Zardari was quoted as saying in a press release issued by the Press Wing of the President Secretariat.

The prime minister reiterated the resolve to foil the nefarious attempts of the terrorists to disrupt peace and security in the country. "Along with me, the entire nation salutes the courage and valour of the security forces personnel," prime minister stated.

He added the jawans and personnel of the security forces, without fear for their lives, were tirelessly working to rid the homeland of the scourge of terrorism. "For the protection of the motherland, the officers and soldiers of the security forces have rendered unmatched sacrifices," he said.

A press release, issued by the Prime Minister Office Media Wing, quoted the prime minister as saying that the entire nation, including him, stood shoulder to shoulder with their brave security forces for the complete eradication of the monstrous threat of terrorism.

(WITH INPUT FROM APP)