RAWALPINDI: Two Pakistan Army soldiers embraced martyrdom while security forces killed 16 terrorists during a series of intelligence-based operations in different areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan district, the military’s media wing said on Saturday.
According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operations were conducted in Mir Ali, Dattakhel, Ali Khel and adjoining areas, targeting hideouts of the Indian-sponsored Fitna al-Khwarij.
The ISPR said security personnel engaged multiple terrorist positions during the operations, resulting in intense exchanges of fire over the past 12 hours.
It said 12 terrorists, including two Afghan nationals, were killed in Ali Khel, while two others were eliminated each in Mir Ali and Dattakhel, dealing a major setback to the terrorist network operating in the region.
However, two soldiers lost their lives while fighting the militants.
The martyred personnel were identified as Havildar Asmat Ali, 43, a resident of Swabi district, and Naik Aftab Ali, 32, who belonged to Mardan district.
The military’s media wing said weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the slain terrorists, who were allegedly involved in several terrorist activities, including attacks on innocent civilians.
The statement added that clearance and sanitisation operations were underway to track down any remaining terrorists in the targeted areas.
It reiterated that security forces and law enforcement agencies would continue their counterterrorism campaign under the vision of “Azm-e-Istehkam”, approved by the Federal Apex Committee under the National Action Plan, until the elimination of foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country.
The ISPR said the sacrifices of security personnel further strengthened the nation’s determination to eradicate terrorism.
