BAJAUR: A soldier embraced martyrdom while 19 others were injured when unidentified terrorists attacked their vehicle while security forces pounded militant hideouts as ‘Operation Sarbakaf’ continued on second day on Tuesday in Bajaur tribal district.

According to official sources, terrorists attacked the vehicle of security forces on Sadiqabad-Inayat Kallay road near Nawai Kallay area of Khar tehsil on Tuesday morning. They said that a soldier of Frontier Corps identified as Ihsanullah martyred and 19 others were injured in the attack.

They said that security forces responded immediately and launched search operation in the area.

Meanwhile, ‘Operation Sarbakaf’ continued on the second consecutive day in several areas of Lowi Mamund and War Mamund tehsils on Tuesday.

Soldier martyred in ambush; mortar shell hits house in Lowi Mamund, leaving three dead

Sources said that security forces backed by gunship helicopters and artillery targeted terrorist hideouts. However, no casualties were reported in the action, which was yet to be officially confirmed by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Also in the day, three people including a child identified as Mawia were killed while two others were injured when a mortar shell hit a house in Erab area of Lowi Mamund on Tuesday evening, according to sources.

Dr Nasib Gul, the deputy medical superintendent of district headquarters hospital Khar, said that five injured were brought to the hospital where three succumbed to their injuries while two were under-treatment.

Also, authorities on Tuesday launched registration of displaced people.

The additional deputy commissioner, Saidullah, told Dawn that around 20,000 families left their homes in the operation-affected areas of both Lowi and War Mamund tehsils by Tuesday.

He said that most of the displaced people were staying with their relatives in different areas of the district. However, he said that many of them were also accommodated in 85 educational institutions, both public and private, and Bajaur Sports Complex in Khar.

Meanwhile, curfew remained intact in several areas, bazaars and major roads for the second consecutive day on Tuesday.

Salarzai tribe, one of the major tribes in the district, has already warned terrorists against entering their areas and vowed to maintain peace and support government in maintaining its writ.

Major bazaars and trade centres in the district including Khar, Inayat Kallay, Sadiqabad, Nawagai, Yousafabad and Lowi Sam remained closed for the second consecutive day after the district administration extended its Monday’s curfew order till late Tuesday night.

A notification posted on the deputy commissioner’s official Facebook page late on Monday night stated that the district administration, with approval from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa home department, clamped another 24-hour curfew upon Khar-Munda, Khar-Nawagai and Khar-Sadiqabad-Inayat Kallay roads due to prevailing security situation in the district.

According to the notification, the restrictions in about 27 areas of both Lowi mamund and War Mamund tehsils will be effective till 11am of August 14 owing to the ongoing ‘targeted operation’ against terrorists.

The areas that would remain under curfew until August 14 include Laghari, Gohati, Ghanam Shah, Bad-i-Siah, Gat, Kitkot, Regai, Daag, Ghundi, Amanato, Zagai, Garigal, Niaag, Damadola, Sultan Baig, Chowtra, Gaang, Jawar, Inam Khooro, Chinagai, Safari, Bar Gatki, Kharki, Shakroo, Shinkoot and Bakaroo.

Locals, especially residents of urban areas of Khar tehsil, have been confined to their homes owing to imposition of curfew.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2025