RAWALPINDI: The military’s media affairs wing said on Saturday that a captain was martyred while seven terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Hangu district.
In a statement, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said security forces conducted an IBO in Hangu on Friday following reports about the presence of terrorists belonging to Fitna al Khawarij — a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.
During the operation, troops effectively engaged the terrorists, it said.
“In desperation, the khawarij took refuge inside a mosque, blatantly disregarding the sanctity of the place of worship. In ensuing fire exchange, seven khawarij belonging to Indian-sponsored Fitna al Khawarij were sent to hell,” it said.
The statement went on to say that during the exchange of fire, 27-year-old Captain Hamza Akram, a resident of Punjab’s Narowal district who was “leading his troops from front and relentlessly pursuing” the terrorists, embraced martyrdom.
“Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed khawarij, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against the security forces and law enforcement agencies as well as killing of innocent civilians,” it said.
ISPR said that a sanitisation operation was being conducted to eliminate any other Indian-sponsored terrorists in the area.
President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to the martyred captain, saying, “The motherland pays its profound tribute to the great sacrifice of its brave son.”
“The entire nation is indebted to the eternal sacrifices of these brave sons for the motherland,” the president added, offering prayers for the bereaved family.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep grief over Captain Akram’s martyrdom while hailing his courage and devotion, state-run APP reported.
In a statement issued by his office, PM Shehbaz lauded the security forces for eliminating seven terrorists “operating under the Indian patronage”.
“The nation will never forget the sacrifices of its brave sons,” the press release quoted him as saying. He prayed for the captain’s elevated ranks and for patience for his family.
The prime minister reiterated that operations against Fitna al Khawarij would continue till complete elimination of terrorism.
“The sacrifices rendered by our brave armed forces and law-enforcement agencies for the defence, peace and security of the country and nation will not go in vain,” he asserted.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also paid tribute to the martyred captain and offered his condolences to the bereaved family. He said that the officer had paid the ultimate sacrifice for the homeland and would remain alive in our hearts.
A day earlier, ISPR said 10 terrorists were killed in two separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It said that in the first encounter, a group of terrorists attempted to attack security forces’ checkposts in Azam Warsak area in South Waziristan, which was effectively thwarted, resulting in the deaths of eight terrorists.
“In another encounter that took place in Dir district, own troops successfully neutralised two more khawarij,” it added.
