Three soldiers were martyred during a gunfight with terrorists attempting to infiltrate Pakistan via the Afghanistan border near Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Bajaur district, according to a statement from the Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) on Monday.
The military’s media wing reported that security forces detected the movement of a terrorist group trying to cross the Pak-Afghan border during the night between August 18 and 19. The troops effectively engaged the terrorists, thwarting their infiltration attempt. As a result, five terrorists, referred to as “khwarij of Fitna al Khwarij,” were killed, while four others were injured.
The ISPR noted that the Pakistani soldiers fought bravely and sacrificed their lives. The martyrs were identified as Sepoy Waqar Khan, 25, Lance Naik Umer Hayat, 35, and Naik Inayat Khan, 36.
The statement emphasized that Pakistan has consistently urged the interim Afghan government to ensure effective border management on their side. It called on the Afghan authorities to fulfill their responsibilities and prevent the use of Afghan soil by terrorists to carry out attacks against Pakistan. The ISPR affirmed that Pakistan’s security forces remain dedicated to securing the nation’s borders, and the sacrifices of its soldiers only strengthen their resolve.
In a related incident on Friday, security forces killed three terrorists during an intelligence-based operation in Razmak, KP, according to the ISPR.
Pakistan has seen a rise in terrorism since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, with most incidents occurring in provinces bordering Afghanistan, such as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
A report from the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) indicated that during the second quarter of the current year, 380 fatalities and 220 injuries related to violence were recorded among civilians, security personnel, and criminals. These casualties resulted from 240 incidents involving terrorist attacks and counter-terrorism operations.
In response, the federal cabinet approved Operation Azm-e-Istehkam in June, a renewed national counter-terrorism campaign following the Central Apex Committee’s recommendations under the National Action Plan to eradicate terrorism.
