RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir on Wednesday visited soldiers injured in an operation in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the army’s media wing said.
An Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement said the Army Chief met the injured officers and men at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Rawalpindi.
The soldiers were injured during an operation to free hostages by militants at the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) facility in Bannu.
While staying with them for “some time”, the COAS discovered their well-being and appreciated their high spirit and morale. He also appreciated his professionalism during the operation against terrorists.
The militants overpowered the CTD personnel posted at the center last Sunday and held them hostage for three days. Springing into action, Pakistan Army’s Special Services Group (SSG) stormed the facility on Tuesday.
Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that as a result of the operation, 25 terrorists were killed, two were arrested and seven surrendered.
However, one junior commissioned officer and two soldiers – Subedar Major Khurshid Akram, Sepoy Saeed and Sepoy Babar – were martyred while 10 soldiers, including three officers, were injured in the action, an army spokesman said.
The military spokesman expressed the determination of the security forces to eradicate terrorism, the sacrifices of the brave martyrs further strengthened the resolve.
Major General Sharif further said that the fresh wave of terrorism will not be allowed to emerge from the western border. He warned that whoever comes against us will be crushed.
Talking about the policy regarding the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, which claimed responsibility for the attack, he said that no terrorist group will be allowed to flourish and the writ of the state will be established at all costs.
In response, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif made it clear that the state will not surrender or bow down to any terrorist organization or organization.
In a statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the incidents of terrorism in various areas of KP and said that nefarious attempts to spread chaos in Pakistan will be dealt with strictly according to law and constitution.
He added that the government will deal with terrorists and their external facilitators who spread and support them in Pakistan.
Describing terrorism as a sensitive issue of national security, the Prime Minister said that there is a need for collective thinking and an action plan in this regard.
