Two soldiers were martyred and three others sustained injuries in an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion near Datakhel area of North Waziristan, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Wednesday.

According to ISPR, the blast took place when an IED planted on track by militants went off near a security forces vehicle.

The deceased were identified as Lance Naik Momin Ali and Sepoy Saleem. The injured have been shifted to Combined Medical Hospital (CMH) Peshawar, the army's media wing said.

Militancy appears to have reared its head in North Waziristan again after two girls' schools were blown up in its Miramshah Tehsil.

Later, three people were killed in a gun and knife attack which led the locals to call a sit-in until their demands to curb lawlessness and targeted killings were met.

COAS visits Quetta

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa today addressed officers and faculty of Command and Staff Collage, Quetta, the ISPR said in a separate statement.

"COAS said that through great sacrifices of security forces and the nation we are on positive trajectory of peace and stability," the statement read.

He said that the job is still incomplete and the gains need to be carried forward for enduring peace.

"Acknowledging and hailing contributions and performance of young officers in the operations, the COAS advised them to continue excelling."

Later, Gen Bajwa visited Headquarters Southern Command, Quetta where he was briefed about the progress of border fencing along the Balochistan portion of Pak-Afghan border, Quetta Safe City Project and ‘Khushal Balochistan’ initiative.

He expressed his satisfaction on progress of the socioeconomic and security initiatives, the ISPR said.

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.