PESHAWAR: Funeral prayers of the two security forces’ personnel, who embraced martyrdom in a late Sunday night militant attack in North Waziristan tribal district, were offered in their native villages on Tuesday.

Senior serving and retired army officials, relatives of the martyred security personnel and a large number of locals attended the funeral prayers.

According to a statement issued by Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, funeral prayers of Sepoy Afzal Khan were offered in Badar Gah area of Mardan district, and that of Sepoy Imranullah in Sarai Sar area of Bajaur tribal district.

“The martyred security personnel were laid to rest with fill military honour,” the statement said, adding that the armed forces remained fully committed to ensuring the defence of the motherland against all internal and external threats. It said that hostile efforts to spoil the hard-earned peace would be met with the full might of the armed forces.

The security personnel had embraced martyrdom when militants stormed a security checkpost in Noorkhel area of North Waziristan district late Sunday night.

The militants, armed with advanced weaponry, were engaged by security forces. During the operation, two attackers were also gunned down and a heavy cache of weapons and ammunition was also recovered from the militants, who the ISPR said were actively involved in militant activities against security forces.

Published in Dawn, March 1st, 2023