PESHAWAR: Two security officials embraced martyrdom during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) against terrorists in the Hassan Khel area on Sunday, the military said.

The intense gun battle that took place at a location 40km south of the provincial capital also left five terrorists dead and three others injured.

The military’s media wing said the IBO was planned following intelligence about the reported presence of terrorists in the area.

A statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) read that security forces effectively engaged the terrorists during the operation and gunned down five of them, adding that three others were injured during the crossfire. “During conduct of the operation, troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location. Five terrorists were killed and three terrorists got injured,” it said.

The ISPR said that 25-year-old Captain Hussain Jahangir from Rahim Yar Khan district and 36-year-old Havaldar Shafiq Ullah from Karak district, having fought gallantly, embraced martyrdom.

The statement read that a sanitisation operation was being carried out to eliminate any terrorists found in the area.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister paid tribute to the security forces for the successful operation against terrorists in the Hasan Khel area of Peshawar.

The PM also offered his condolences to the families of Captain Hussain Jahangir and Havaldar Shafiq Ullah, who embraced martyrdom during the operation in which five terrorists were killed.

On Nov 16, 2023, four militants were killed and a soldier was martyred in the Sher Kera area within the jurisdiction of Mattani police station.

The military’s media wing said that security forces had “effectively engaged the militants’ location” and killed militant “commander” Samiullah alias Shenay, militant “commander” Salman alias Ahmed, Imran alias Mohammad, and Hazrat Umar alias Khalid.

The area remained under militants’ influence since 2007 and terrorist attacks, including suicide bombings, took place in which several law enforcement personnel and members of the Lashkar-peace militia lost their lives.

The militia was raised with the government support and meant to protect the area against terrorist attacks. Haji Abdul Malik, former nazim of Adezai union council and head of the local peace militia, died when a suicide bomber blew himself up on Nov 8, 2009.

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2024