<\/p>\n
Four soldiers were martyred and 12 terrorists killed in an operation to repulse militants from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa\u2019s Chitral district on Wednesday, according to the military\u2019s media wing.<\/p>\n
The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release said that a \u201clarge group of terrorists equipped with latest weapons\u201d attacked two military posts located close to the Afghanistan border in Chitral district\u2019s general area of Kalash.<\/p>\n
\u201cTerrorists\u2019 movement and concentration in Gawardesh, Pitigal, Barg-i-Matal and Batash areas of Nuristan and Kunar provinces of Afghanistan had already been picked up and were timely shared with Interim Afghan Government.<\/p>\n
\u201cOwing to heightened threat environment, own posts were already on high alert. The valiant soldiers fought bravely and repulsed the attacks inflicting heavy casualties to the terrorists. During the fire exchange, twelve terrorists were sent to hell, while a large number has been critically injured,\u201d the ISPR said.<\/p>\n
It added that four soldiers \u201cfought gallantly\u201d during the exchange of fire and were martyred.<\/p>\n
The military\u2019s media wing said the area was being sanitised to eliminate any other terrorists found in the vicinity.<\/p>\n
\u201cSecurity forces of Pakistan are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our soldiers further strengthen our resolve. The brave people of Chitral also stand firmly with the security forces in not allowing the terrorists to ruin the peace of the area,\u201d the ISPR said.<\/p>\n
The ISPR also said that the interim Afghan government was \u201cexpected to fulfil its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by terrorists for perpetuating acts of terrorism against Pakistan\u201d.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Lower Chitral Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ali told Dawn.com<\/em> that seven soldiers and over 40 terrorists were injured in the skirmish.<\/p>\n He told AFP<\/em> the attackers \u201cwere in hundreds and were armed with light and heavy weapons. We were ready to face the attack and exchange of fire continued for some four hours\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were monitoring their movements in areas close to the border for two or three days,\u201d Ali was quoted as saying.<\/p>\n Police official Karim Khan told AFP<\/em> that security forces had sealed entry to Chitral while another official said troops and paramilitary forces were rushed in to reinforce the district.<\/p>\n The banned militant Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group claimed responsibility for the attacks on the military posts.<\/p>\n Earlier today, reports on social media suggested that villages in Chitral district had allegedly come under the TTP\u2019s control in the early hours of Wednesday. No such development was mentioned by the government or the ISPR.<\/p>\n The Khorasan Diary, however, in the morning quoted a senior security official as saying there was \u201cno truth of area being taken\u201d.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, former North Waziristan MNA Mohsin Dawar termed the reports as \u201cvery concerning\u201d.<\/p>\n Interim Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti saluted the valour of the soldiers involved in the operation.<\/p>\n Former prime minister and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the martyred soldiers and prayed for the country to be rid of the menace of terrorism.<\/p>\n Jamaat-i-Islami Emir Sirajul Haq said the attacks on the military posts were concerning. \u201cThe government should take effective measures to ensure the safety of life and property of the people,\u201d he said on social media platform X and appreciated the sacrifice of the martyrs.<\/p>\n Uptick in terrorist attacks<\/h2>\n