KHYBER: A major of the Pakistan Army was martyred in an exchange of fire with alleged militants in the Shahkas area of Khyber tribal district, bordering Peshawar, the military’s media wing said on Thursday.

The security forces were doing a follow-up intelligence-based operation after a similar one on Wednesday night on the reports of militants’ presence in the area.

The personnel were establishing checkpoints to block the escape routes of the militants when Major Mian Abdullah Shah, who was leading the operation, spotted alleged militants, an ISPR statement added.

Following a heavy exchange of fire, the 33-year-old major, a resident of Kohat, embraced martyrdom. Three alleged militants and their facilitators were arrested.

Abducted cop found dead in Tirah

The statement added that the sanitisation of the area was being carried out to eliminate the re­­maining terrorists present in the area. “Security forces were dete­rmined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of the soldiers further strengthened the soldiers’ resolve.”

The attack came a day after three soldiers were martyred and as many civilians critically injured in a suicide attack in the general area of Miran Shah in the North Waziristan district. According to ISPR, a vehicle-borne suicide bomber, intending to hit a security checkpoint, exploded himself when intercepted by the security forces.

The funeral prayers of Major Shah; and Naib Subedar Sahib Khan, Naik Muhammad Ibrahim and Sepoy Jehangir Khan who embraced martyrdom in the North Waziristan attack were offered in their native respective towns with full military honours on Thursday, the ISPR statement added.

It stated that serving and retired officers and soldiers, relatives and a large number of people from different segments of society attended the funeral prayers.

“Armed forces of Pakistan stand resolute to eliminate the menace of terrorism at all costs. These sacrifices reaffirm our resolve and strengthen our faith in the fight against terrorism to provide a peaceful Pakistan to our future generations,” the ISPR said.

Constable martyred in Tirah

In KP’s Tirah valley, a police constable was martyred in the Bar Qambar Khel on Thursday.

Sources said unidentified armed men kidnapped Constable Ajmal Khan from a ground and later martyred him at an undisclosed locality. His funeral was later offered at the Shah Kas police training centre in Jamrud.

Published in Dawn, July 7th, 2023