NORTH WAZIRISTAN / LOWER DIR: A Pakistan Army soldier embraced martyrdom in Lower Dir as militants stepped up attacks against security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Saturday.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, three alleged militants were killed and two injuried after a bomb went off in North Waziristan’s Haiderkhel village in Mirali. Sources said a loud explosion occurred while the alleged terrorists were trying to plant an improvised explosive device. Police reached the scene following the blast and cordoned off the area.

In Lower Dir, an IED blast claimed the life of one soldier and injured two others, including a social worker in Bara Banda. Sources said the soldiers were busy repairing a water supply connection from a natural spring when the blast occurred near them.

The martyred soldier was identified as Sajid, a resident of Azad Kashmir, while the wounded were identified as soldier Adnan and social worker Riasat. Later, the soldier’s funeral was offered at the Barawal hospital. The body was then brought to the Dir Scouts’ Headquarters in Balambat, where another funeral prayer was offered. After the last rites, the body was dispatched to his hometown.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2022