Two Pakistan Army soldiers, including a major, were martyred during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in South Waziristan that killed 11 terrorists, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Tuesday.
The military’s media wing said the IBO was conducted in the general area of South Waziristan’s Sararogha on the reported presence of terrorists belonging to ‘Fitna al-Khwarij,’ the designation utilized by Pakistan for militants of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
During the operation, read the statement, troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location and resultantly neutralized 11 Indian-sponsored militants and injured seven others. However, it said, Major Syed Moiz Abbas Shah, a brave officer leading his troops from the front, paid the ultimate sacrifice along with another brave son of soil Lance Naik Jibranullah.
Shah, 37, was renowned for his courage and daring actions in numerous operations conducted against the terrorists. In 2019, he had rescued Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan from a mob after he crashed in Pakistan.
The ISPR said a sanitization operation was underway to eliminate any other Indian-sponsored terrorist found in the area, adding security forces are determined to wipe out the menace of Indian-sponsored terrorism from the country and such sacrifices of our brave men further strengthen our resolve.
In separate statements, President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the professional capabilities of the officers and personnel of the security forces for successfully carrying out the operation against terrorists of Fitna Al-Khwarij.
They paid tribute to Shaheed Major Syed Moiz Abbas Shah and Shaheed Lance Naik Jibranullah and prayed for the high ranks of the martyrs and grant of patience for the bereaved families.
Praising the bravery and patriotism of the martyred personnel, Zardari said the nation would always remember their sacrifices. Sharif likewise said the entire nation, including him, was proud of the martyrs and their families. He said the sacrifices of those who embraced martyrdom for the sake of the beloved homeland would not go in vain.
Both the president and the prime minister have reiterated the resolve to continue the fight against the scourge of terrorism until its complete eradication.
Data issued by the Islamabad-based Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies says the country recorded 85 militant attacks in May, resulting in 113 fatalities—52 security forces personnel, 46 civilians, 11 militants, and four members of peace committees. There were 182 people injured in the attacks, comprising 130 civilians, 47 security personnel, four militants, and one peace committee member.
Balochistan and KP remained the most affected provinces, accounting for 82 of the 85 attacks nationwide.