NORTH WAZIRISTAN/PESHAWAR: Six soldiers were martyred and three militants killed during a gun battle in North Waziristan, near the Pak-Afghan border, the military’s media wing confirmed on Thursday.

The security forces had launched an operation on the intelligence reports about the presence of militants in the area, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Also on Thursday, security forces claimed to have killed a high-profile militant in an undercover operation in Dera Ismail Khan. A police officer, SDPO Abid Iqbal, was also injured during the operation.

The exchange of fire took place in the Dirdoni area of Tehsil Ghulam Khan as security forces closed in on the militants’ location.

The forces gunned down three alleged terrorists while two were injured.

According to the ISPR, the martyred soldiers included Havaldar Saleem Khan, 36, from Tank; Naik Javed Iqbal, 37, from Kohat; Sepoy Nazir Khan, 26, from Bannu; Sepoy Hazrat Bilal, 25, from Mardan; Sepoy Syed Rajab Hussain, 22, from Orakzai; and Sepoy Bismillah Jan, 22, from Khyber.

A sanitisation operation was underway to eliminate any terrorists found in the area, the statement added.

Condemnation

The prime minister, interior minister, national assembly speaker and other political leaders have expressed grief over the martyrdom of the soldiers.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said these “supreme sacrifices” showed the “unwavering national resolve” to root out terrorism.

“No matter how long the battle, our valiant armed forces, with the support of the nation, will root out terrorism in its entirety,” the PM said in a tweet.

“My profound condolences to the bereaved families & prayers for the departed souls.”

In his condolence message, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said these sacrifices “would not go to waste” as the entire nation stood behind the army in this effort to eradicate terrorism.

PPP President Asif Ali Zardari urged the federal government to bring the terrorists, their patrons, and facilitators to task.

“The nation will never forgive the killers of its brave soldiers,” a statement by the PPP secretariat quoted Mr Zardari as saying.

He also expressed sympathy for the families of the martyred soldiers.

Militant gunned downThe militant, Muhammad Iqbal alias Bali Khiyara, was wanted for numerous acts of terrorism including the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in 2009, and was killed along with his associate.

A senior police official told Dawn that around 21 cases related to sectarian killings in KP and Punjab were also registered against the deceased militant.

He was initially associated with Lashkar-i-Jhangvi but later joined the banned outfit Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which confirmed Khiyara’s killing.

Muhammad Irfan Mughal in D.I. Khan also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2023