RAWALPINDI: A major of Pakistan Army lost his life in an exchange of fire with terrorists in Shikas area of Khyber district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Thursday.
ISPR said the incident took place when security forces launched an Intelligence-Based Operation (IBO) in the area on the intervening night of July 5-6 after receiving information about the presence of terrorists.
Major Mian Abdullah Shah, leading the operation from the front, saw a section of the militants as “blockade positions were being set up to cut off the escape routes of the terrorists”.
When the forces intercepted them, ISPR said a fierce exchange of fire ensued, resulting in the martyrdom of Major Shah – a 33-year-old resident of Kohat.
The media wing of the army said that the forces have since arrested three terrorists and their facilitators while a sweep operation is underway to eliminate more terrorists in the area.
The ISPR added that Pakistan’s security forces are committed to end the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices by our soldiers only strengthens our resolve.
The development came hours after at least three soldiers were killed when a suicide bomber in a vehicle blew himself up in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan district.
The martyred soldiers have been identified as 41-year-old Naib Subedar Sahib Khan, a resident of Mianwali. 40-year-old Naik Muhammad Ibrahim, a resident of Dera Ismail Khan. And 24-year-old soldier Jahangir Khan, a resident of Mardan, ISPR said three innocent civilians were also seriously injured in the suicide blast.
Three days ago, terrorists “attempted to ambush” a “combat patrol of security forces” in Bilor area of Hoshab district in Balochistan, including two army personnel, a major.
According to ISPR, Major Saqib Hussain and Naik Baqir Ali were martyred while another soldier was injured in the fierce exchange of fire.
