Major among four soldiers martyred, 24 terrorists killed in Balochistan, KP operations: ISPR

Security forces killed 24 terrorists, including a suicide bomber and two Afghan nationals, during intelligence-based operations in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while four army personnel, including a major, embraced martyrdom in separate incidents, the military’s media wing said on Saturday.

According to statements issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces killed eight terrorists during an operation in the Kolpur area of Balochistan and another 16 in North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In Balochistan, security forces have been conducting multiple intelligence-based operations around Kolpur, Kardagap and Nushki since November 13, alongside area domination and patrolling of the Quetta-Taftan National Highway (N-40).

During an operation in Kolpur on the night between November 13 and 14, security forces killed eight terrorists, including a suicide bomber, and recovered a large quantity of weapons and ammunition, the ISPR said.

However, on November 14, terrorists targeted military vehicles on patrol using armed quadcopters, resulting in the deaths of two army personnel.

The ISPR identified them as Major Omer Minhas Nasir, a resident of Chakwal district, and Havildar Muhammad Adnan Khan, a resident of Kotli Sattian.

In a separate operation in North Waziristan, security forces engaged multiple terrorist positions in Mir Ali, Datta Khel and surrounding areas.

Following exchanges of fire, 12 terrorists, including two Afghan nationals, were killed in Ali Khel, while two terrorists each were killed in Mir Ali and Datta Khel, according to the military’s media wing.

Two more soldiers, identified as Havildar Asmat Ali, 43, a resident of Swabi district, and Naik Aftab Ali, 32, from Mardan district, were also killed during the engagements.

Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the terrorists, who, according to the ISPR, were involved in several terrorist activities, including attacks on civilians.

The military’s media wing said clearance operations were continuing in the affected areas to eliminate any remaining terrorists. It added that counterterrorism operations under the government’s Azm-e-Istehkam framework would continue until the threat of terrorism was eliminated.

The ISPR also said that the terrorist groups were receiving support from India and other hostile intelligence agencies and were using drones, improvised explosive devices and other technologies to target security forces and civilians.

PM, president pay tribute to martyred personnel

Separately, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised security forces for killing 24 terrorists in the two operations and paid tribute to the four personnel who lost their lives.

According to statements issued by the President’s Media Wing and the Prime Minister’s Office, both leaders commended the professionalism and courage of security forces.

Zardari expressed condolences to the families of the four personnel, saying their sacrifices strengthened the nation’s resolve to eliminate terrorism.

The president also reaffirmed his support for continued operations under Azm-e-Istehkam.

Meanwhile, Shehbaz paid tribute to the martyred personnel and extended condolences to their bereaved families.

He said the sacrifices of security personnel strengthened the national commitment to eliminating terrorism and reaffirmed that operations against foreign-sponsored terrorism would continue with full force.

The prime minister added that the nation and law enforcement agencies stood alongside security forces in their efforts to restore peace and stability.