As many as five soldiers of the Pakistan Army embraced martyrdom on Sunday while thwarting terrorists’ attack from inside Afghanistan across the international border, and inflicted heavy losses to terrorists who opened fire on Pakistani troops in Kurram district.
“Terrorists from inside Afghanistan, across the international border, opened fire on Pakistani troops in Kurram district,” a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said, adding that Pakistani troops responded in a “befitting manner”.
The martyred soldiers were identified as Lance Naik Ajab Noor, 32, a resident of Karachi; Sepoy Ziaullah Khan, 22, a resident of Lakki Marwat; Sepoy Naheed Iqbal, 23, a resident of Karak; Sepoy Sameerullah Khan, 18, a resident of Bannu; and Sepoy Sajid Ali, 27, a resident of Bahawalnagar.
The military’s media wing said that as per intelligence reports, due to fire of Pakistan Army troops, the terrorists suffered heavy causalities.
“Pakistan strongly condemns the use of Afghan soil by terrorists for activities against Pakistan and expects that interim Afghan government will not allow conduct of such activities against Pakistan, in [the] future.” It added that the Pakistan Army was determined to defend Pakistan’s borders against the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of its brave men further strengthen its resolve. The banned TTP claimed responsibility for the attack.
Meanwhile, security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation (IBO) near Dial Road in Tank area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and killed a would-be suicide bomber, the ISPR said. Security forces conducted the operation on “confirmed intelligence reports of presence of” terrorists belonging to the proscribed TTP. “During the operation, a suicide bomber has been killed,” the statement added.
