Four Pakistani soldiers, including Lieutenant Daniyal, were martyred while successfully preventing an infiltration attempt in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to a statement from the military’s media wing on Thursday.
In two distinct operations conducted in the province, security forces eliminated a total of seven militants. One of the incidents occurred in the Shawal region of North Waziristan, where armed assailants launched an attack on a security checkpoint. The assault was swiftly countered, resulting in the deaths of six foreign militants allegedly backed by India.
During the intense exchange of fire, Lieutenant Daniyal, Naib Subedar Kashif Raza, Lance Naik Fiaqat Ali, and Sepoy Muhammad Hameed were martyred in the line of duty.
In a separate incident in Chitral, another militant believed to be linked to Indian support was killed during a clash with Pakistani forces.
A clearance operation remains underway due to concerns over the presence of additional militants in the area.
The military reiterated its commitment to eradicating terrorism, particularly acts it claims are orchestrated with Indian backing, and emphasized that the sacrifices of its soldiers only reinforce the armed forces’ determination to protect the country.
In a related development, five members of the proscribed group Fitna-ul-Hindustan were killed in two intelligence-based operations in Balochistan.
During the first operation in Loralai, four militants were killed following a fierce gunfight. Security personnel recovered weapons, ammunition, and explosives from the scene. The deceased were reportedly involved in multiple acts of terrorism, including attacks on August 26, 2024, and February 18, 2025, which targeted National Highway 70 and resulted in the deaths of at least 30 civilians.
According to security officials, these militants were listed among the most wanted due to their involvement in major attacks.
In a second operation carried out in Kech district, another member of the same group was neutralized.
The military reaffirmed its resolve to eliminate all elements of Fitna-e-Hindustan and bring all terrorists and their facilitators to justice through sustained counterterrorism efforts.
