PESHAWAR: A Pakistan Army soldier embraced martyrdom in an exchange of fire with the terrorists in Dwatoi area of North Waziristan, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Tuesday.

The attackers opened fire on the security forces from inside Afghanistan on Monday, the ISPR has claimed.

The security forces responded in a befitting manner and as per credible intelligence reports, terrorists suffered heavy casualties, the statement added.

The martyred sepoy has been identified as Nazar Muhammad, 34, hailing from Balochistan’s Jaffer­abad area.

“Pakistan strongly condemns the use of Afghan soil by terrorists for activities against Pakistan and expected that the interim Afghan government would not allow conduct of such activities in future.”

Pakistan Army is determined to defend borders against the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve, the ISPR added.

This is the second cross-border attack on the army along the Pakistan-Afgha­nistan border within a month.

On Sept 14, three army soldiers embraced martyrdom when terrorists from inside Afghanistan opened fire on Pakistani troops in general area Kharlachi in Kurram district, according to the ISPR.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2022