<\/p>\n
Seven soldiers \u2014 including two officers \u2014 were martyred in a terrorist attack on a security forces\u2019 post in the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Six terrorists were also neutralised in the subsequent clearance operation.<\/p>\n
According to the military\u2019s media affairs wing, in the early hours of March 16, 2024, a group of six terrorists attacked a security forces\u2019 post in the general area of Mir Ali of North Waziristan District.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs own troops foiled the initial attempt of intrusion, the terrorists rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the post, followed by multiple suicide bombing attacks, which led to the collapse of a portion of a building, resulting into shahadat<\/em> (martyrdom) of five brave sons of the soil,\u201d ISPR added.<\/p>\n The martyrs of the initial attack include Havildar Sabir, a resident of District Khyber, Naik Khurshid (resident of District Lakki Marwat), Sepoy Nasir (resident of District Peshawar), Sepoy Raja (resident of District Kohat) and Sepoy Sajjad (resident of District Abbottabad).<\/p>\n \u201cDuring the conduct of the ensuing clearance operation, own troops led by Lieutenant Colonel Kashif, effectively engaged and killed all six terrorists,\u201d ISPR said.<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, during the intense exchange of fire, leading his troops from the front, Lieutenant Colonel Syed Kashif Ali (age: 39 years, resident of Karachi) and Captain Muhammad Ahmed Badar (age: 23 years, resident of District Talagang), having fought gallantly, paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced shahadat<\/em>,\u201d ISPR added.<\/p>\n The military\u2019s media wing said a sanitisation operation was being conducted to eliminate any other terrorist present in the area, \u201cas security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve\u201d.<\/p>\n The funeral of the martyrs was later held at Bannu Cantt.<\/p>\n \u201cThe martyrs will be buried in their native areas with full military honours. However, a large number of military and civil officials, including General Officer Commanding Major General Anjum Riaz attended the funeral prayers,\u201d the ISPR said.<\/p>\n \u201cPakistan Army will continue to render sacrifices till the last drop of blood for the defence of the dear motherland,\u201d the ISPR added.<\/p>\n Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari, in separate statements, condemned the attack.<\/p>\n The prime minister called the attack a \u201ccoward\u201d move by the terrorists.<\/p>\n \u201cThe security forces have foiled the sinister designs of the terrorists,\u201d PM Sharif said, according to the prime minister\u2019s office.<\/p>\n \u201cI, and the whole nation, are proud of the martyrs who sacrificed lives,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He prayed for the departed souls and offered condolences to the bereaved families.<\/p>\n President Zardari condemned the terrorist attack and extended condolences to the bereaved families.<\/p>\n In a post on X, the head of state paid tribute to army officers and soldiers who embraced martyrdom in the attack. He also expressed the nation\u2019s commitment to completely eradicate terrorism.<\/p>\n The president prayed to elevate the rank of martyrs and give patience to their families.<\/p>\n Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the nation was united in combatting terrorism in all its forms.<\/p>\n National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq also condemned the attack.<\/p>\n According to a post on X by the National Assembly\u2019s official account, the speaker expressed deep sorrow and regret over the loss of precious lives, and paid tribute to the martyrs including Lt Col Kashif and Captain Ahmed.<\/p>\n \u201cThe nation will never forget the sacrifices of its soldiers,\u201d the statement quoted the National Assembly speaker as saying. \u201cTerrorists are following the nefarious intentions of the enemy in which they will never succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n The speaker said that the entire nation was standing together with the security forces to crush the nefarious intentions of terrorists.<\/p>\n Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in terror activities in 2023 year, especially in KP and Balochistan after the banned militant Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan ended its ceasefire<\/a> with the government in November 2022.<\/p>\n The ISPR said earlier this month 10 militants were killed in two separate operations<\/a> by security forces in the North Waziristan district. It added that Pakistan expected the Afghan government to fulfil its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by terrorists.<\/p>\n Last month, a late-night attack on a police station in Dera Ismail Khan was repulsed<\/a>. Gunmen had mounted an attack using heavy weapons but fled in the cover of darkness when police personnel fired back.<\/p>\n In December last year, 23 soldiers were martyred<\/a> and more than 30 troops wounded after militants belonging to the Tehreek-i-Jihad Pakistan (TJP) stormed a compound used by the military in Dera Ismail Khan\u2019s Daraban area.<\/p>\nCondemnation, condolence pour in<\/h2>\n
Resurgent terrorism<\/h2>\n