According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), at least 11 military personnel were martyred during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Orakzai district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The ISPR statement said security forces conducted the operation in Orakzai following reports of the presence of the India-backed extremist group Fitna al-Khawarij.
News records indicate that 39-year-old Lieutenant Colonel Junaid Arif of Rawalpindi and his deputy, 33-year-old Major Tayeb Rahat, led the operation with bravery and were killed in action. Nine other soldiers also laid down their lives while defending the country.
The ISPR released the names and hometowns of the fallen soldiers, listing among them 38-year-old Naib Subedar Azam Gul from District Khyber, 35-year-old Naik Adil Hussain from District Kurram, 34-year-old Naik Gul Ameer from District Tank, 31-year-old Lance Naik Sher Khan from District Mardan, and 32-year-old Lance Naik Talash Faraz from District Mansehra. The list also included 32-year-old Lance Naik Irshad Hussain from District Kurram, 28-year-old Sepoy Tufail Khan from District Malakand, 23-year-old Sepoy Aaqib Ali from District Swabi, and 24-year-old Sepoy Muhammad Zahid from District Tank.
The ISPR said security forces eliminated 19 militants during the operation and that clearance and sanitization activities are ongoing in the area to remove any remaining terrorist elements.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the martyrdom of the brave soldiers, assuring that the sacrifices of the security forces will not go in vain. He reiterated the government’s determination to eradicate terrorism from the country and stated that those who attempt to undermine Pakistan’s territorial integrity will fail.
