Five soldiers, including a captain, were martyred when an improvised explosive device (IED) struck security forces during a sanitisation operation in Kech district of Balochistan, the military’s media wing said late Monday.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the IED detonated on September 15 as troops moved to conduct the operation in Sher Bandi, Kech. “As a result, five brave sons of the soil embraced martyrdom, including a captain,” the statement said.
In a follow-up action, security forces killed five terrorists linked to the group ‘Fitna Al Hindustan’, described by the military as “an Indian proxy.” Sanitisation operations in the surrounding area were continuing to clear any remaining militants.
Those martyred included Captain Waqar Ahmed, 25, from Loralai; Naik Asmat Ullah, 35, from Dera Ghazi Khan; Lance Naik Junaid Ahmed, 29, from Sukkur; Lance Naik Khan Muhammad, 29, from Mardan; and Sepoy Muhammad Zahoor, 28, from Swabi.
“The martyrdom of our brave officers and soldiers further strengthens our resolve,” the ISPR said, adding that Pakistan’s security forces “in step with the nation remain steadfast to eradicate terrorism from the country.”
Read More: 45 terrorists killed, 19 soldiers martyred in K-P IBOs
Earlier, thirty-one terrorists linked to the Indian-sponsored Fitna al Khwarij network were killed in two separate intelligence-based operations conducted by security forces in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) on September 13 and 14.
According to ISPR, the first operation took place in Lakki Marwat District following reports of militant presence. “Our troops effectively engaged the Khwarij location, and after an intense exchange of fire, fourteen Indian-sponsored militants were neutralized,” the statement said.
In a separate operation in Bannu District, seventeen more militants were killed during a firefight with security forces.
“Sanitisation operations are ongoing to eliminate any remaining Indian-sponsored Khwarij in the area,” it added, emphasising that Pakistan’s forces are determined to “wipe out the menace of Indian-sponsored terrorism from the country.”
