A clash between security forces and terrorists on Tuesday night resulted in the martyrdom of 11 security personnel and the elimination of 19 khwarij in the Orakzai district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said security forces had conducted an intelligence-based operation in Orakzai on the reported presence of Khwarij belonging to the Indian proxy, Fitna al Khwarij. “During the conduct of operation, 19 Indian sponsored khwarij were sent to hell due to effective engagement by own troops,” it said.
However, during the exchange of fire, both Lt. Col. Junaid Arif (39, resident of Rawalpindi) and his second in command Maj. Tayyab Rahat (33, resident of Rawalpindi), while leading troops from the front, having fought gallantly, paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced shahadat along with nine men.
The ISPR has identified the nine martyred soldiers as Naib Subedar Azam Gul, 38, resident of Khyber; Naik Adil Hussain, 35, resident of Kurram; Naik Gul Ameer, 34, resident of Tank; Lance Naik Sher Khan, 31, resident of Mardan; Lance Naik Talish Faraz, 32, resident of Manshera; Lance Naik Irshad Hussain, 32, resident of Kurram; Sepoy Tufail Khan, 28, resident of Malakand; Sepoy Aqib Ali, 23, resident of Swabi; and Sepoy Muhammad Zahid, 24, resident of Tank).
The military’s media wing said a sanitization operation is underway in the area to eliminate any other Indian sponsored Kharji. It emphasized that the security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of Indian-sponsored terrorism from the country and such sacrifices of our brave men further strengthen their resolve.
Pakistan is currently in the midst of a resurgence of terrorism, particularly in the provinces of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. According to a quarterly report issued by the Center for Research and Security Studies, there was a 46% rise in fatalities, including civilians, security personnel and terrorists, over the past three months, compared to the three months prior.
It recorded 901 fatalities and 599 injuries resulting from 329 incidents of violence, including terrorist attacks and counter-terrorism operations. It said this year, thus far, was on track to be one of the deadliest years for the country in a decade.