Security forces have killed at least 30 terrorists involved in the martyrdom of Lieutenant Colonel Junaid Tariq, Major Tayyab Rahat and nine soldiers a day earlier in Orakzai district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
“Those responsible for the Orakzai attack have been sent to hell,” security sources said in a statement on Thursday, adding that the operation targeted the main formation of the group behind the attack.
According to sources, the murdered terrorists belonged to the outlawed group “Fitna al-Khawarij”, which was involved in attacks against the army and other security personnel. “The security forces remain determined to eradicate terrorism from all parts of the country,” the statement added.
Fitna al-Khwarij is the state-designated term for militants affiliated with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
A day earlier, during an intelligence operation carried out in Orakzai, 11 army personnel, including Lieutenant Colonel Junaid Tariq and Major Tayyab Rahat, were martyred.
Read more: Lieutenant colonel and major among the 11 military martyrs
According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the midnight operation involved intense gunfight during which troops killed 19 terrorists belonging to the Indian-backed Fitna al-Khwarij group.
Lieutenant Colonel Tariq, 39, and his second-in-command, Major Rahat, also 39, both residents of Rawalpindi, led the operation from the front and embraced martyrdom along with nine other soldiers.
The fallen soldiers were identified as Naib Subedar Azam Gul (38, Khyber), Naik Adil Hussain (35, Kurram), Naik Gul Ameer (34, Tank), Lance Naik Sher Khan (31, Mardan), Lance Naik Talish Faraz (32, Mansehra), Lance Naik Irshad Hussain (32, Kurram), Sepoy Tufail. Khan (28, Malakand), Sepoy Aqib Ali (23, Swabi) and Sepoy Muhammad Zahid (24, Tank).
According to the ISPR, the funeral prayers of the martyred soldiers were offered at Chaklala Garrison. They will be buried in their hometowns with full military honors. The funeral was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, federal ministers, senior military and civil officials and members of the public.
Paying tribute to the fallen soldiers, Prime Minister Shehbaz said the nation is united against terrorism. “The Pakistani nation remains resolute and steadfast against this menace of terrorism, and Shuhada’s ultimate sacrifice is a reminder of our unwavering determination to defend the motherland at all costs,” he said.
