A Pakistan Army major was martyred while five terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed on Monday.
The ISPR stated that the operation was conducted in the Khar area based on intelligence about the presence of terrorists affiliated with the India-backed group Fitna al-Khawarij. Security forces engaged the militants, resulting in the elimination of five terrorists, who were reportedly involved in multiple attacks on security personnel and civilians.
Major Adeel Zaman Sacrifices Life in Firefight
During the intense firefight, Major Adeel Zaman, 36, a resident of Dera Ismail Khan, was leading his troops from the front. The ISPR said he “fought gallantly” but ultimately embraced martyrdom. Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain terrorists, highlighting their active involvement in terrorism.
Following the operation, security forces carried out sanitization efforts in the area to neutralize any remaining militants. The ISPR reiterated that the counterterrorism campaign under the “Azm e Istehkam” initiative will continue at full pace to eliminate foreign-sponsored terrorism from Pakistan.
National Leadership Condemns Terrorism, Pays Tribute
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lauded the armed forces for the operation and expressed deep condolences to Major Zaman’s family. He stated that the nation stands united with its armed forces in combating terrorism and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eradicating all forms of terrorism in Pakistan.
Rising Terrorism and Cross-Border Tensions
Pakistan has experienced rising terrorist incidents, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021. Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban to prevent their territory from being used to attack Pakistani forces and civilians, but the requests have largely been ignored, straining bilateral relations.
Cross-border terrorism has previously led to armed clashes between Pakistani forces and Taliban militants. On October 12, unprovoked firing by Taliban fighters and affiliated militants along the border prompted a swift response from Pakistan. The retaliatory operations resulted in over 200 Taliban fighters killed, while 23 Pakistani soldiers lost their lives. Pakistani forces also conducted targeted strikes inside Afghanistan, destroying terrorist hideouts.
A temporary ceasefire was agreed upon after Pakistan accepted the Taliban’s request on October 17. Subsequent talks mediated by Qatar in Doha and later by Turkey in Istanbul aimed to maintain the ceasefire but collapsed after the Taliban delegation presented what Pakistani authorities described as “illogical” arguments.
Security officials stressed that Pakistan remains committed to protecting its citizens and eliminating terrorist networks, emphasizing that operations like the Bajaur IBO are part of a broader strategy to secure the country from foreign-supported terrorism.
