Twelve terrorists killed as armed forces repel border attack in Chitral: ISPR

At least 12 militants were killed when the Pakistani military repelled a major terrorist attack on two border posts in the Chitral district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Wednesday, the military's media wing said.

"The brave soldiers fought bravely and repulsed the attacks inflicting heavy casualties on the terrorists," the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported.

According to the statement, the clash started after a large group of terrorists equipped with the latest weapons attacked two Pakistani military posts closer to the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

In the statement, it was noted that "terrorists' movement and concentration in Gawardesh, Pitigal, Barg-e-Matel, and Batash areas of Nuristan and Kunar provinces of Afghanistan had already been picked up," and that "they were timely shared with the interim Afghan government."

The military posts were already on high alert because of a heightened risk environment, according to the press statement.

However, during the fierce firefight, four brave soldiers who had fought valiantly embraced Shahadat, the statement added.

The statement said that "the area is being sanitised to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area."

The press release stated that the Pakistani security forces are committed to ending the threat of terrorism, and that such "sacrifices made by our brave soldiers only serve to reinforce our resolve."

It further stated that the valiant residents of Chitral staunchly support the security forces and are resolute to prevent the terrorists from destroying the region's tranquillity.

The statement emphasised that the interim Afghan government must uphold its commitments and prevent terrorists from using Afghan territory to carry out attacks against Pakistan.

The development comes a week after nine soldiers were martyred while five others were injured in a suicide attack at a military convoy in the Jani Khel general area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district.

Earlier, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir said the surge in terrorism in the recent past was a futile effort on the part of terrorists to get the talks re-initiated.

He stated that the only choice for militants was to submit to the writ of the state.