- IBO held in DI Khan’s Daraban area, says ISPR.
- Major Sibtain leads the troops and embraces martyrdom.
- Weapons, ammunition recovered from terrorists.
RAWALPINDI: An army officer was martyred in an Intelligence Based Operation (IBO) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dera Ismail Khan, during which seven Indian terrorists were eliminated, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Thursday.
The IBO, the army’s media wing said, was carried out on October 8 in Daraban area due to the alleged presence of terrorists.
In the next operation that included an intense exchange of fire, Major Sibtain Haider of the Pakistan Army “leading his troops from the front, having fought bravely, paid the ultimate sacrifice” and embraced martyrdom.
The martyred officer was 30 years old and resided in Quetta district.
Reacting to this development, President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to the martyred Major Sibtain and said that the officer had “set a great example by sacrificing his life in defense of the country”.
In a separate statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also praised security forces for a successful operation against Fitna al-Khawarij.
The Prime Minister paid tribute to security force officers and staff for their bravery and professionalism and especially praised Major Sibtain.
“The entire nation, including myself, is proud of the brave officers and soldiers of our armed forces, who remain committed day and night in the defense of the country,” the prime minister said in a statement.
Prime Minister Shehbaz also reaffirmed the determination of the government and the nation to continue the fight against terrorism until the complete eradication of this menace from the country.
“The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the armed forces and supports their unwavering commitment to protecting the homeland,” he added.
Meanwhile, while a clearance operation was underway to eliminate any other Fitna al-Khawarij in the area, weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the terrorists who were still actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against security forces and law enforcement agencies, as well as in the killing of innocent civilians.
The IBO comes a day after the ISPR said two army officers and nine soldiers embraced martyrdom during an IBO in Orakzai district of KP.
During the operation, 19 terrorists were also killed after an effective confrontation between the troops.
The martyred officers were identified as Lieutenant Colonel Junaid Tariq, 39, and Major Tayyab Rahat, 33, both residents of Rawalpindi.
A day earlier, the Pakistan Army, at its 272nd Corps Commanders’ Conference (CCC), reaffirmed the army’s commitment to neutralize Indian-sponsored terrorist proxies such as Fitna Al-Khawarij and Fitna Al-Hindustan, and vowed to dismantle networks that undermine state security.
The forum noted that, whatever happens, the existing nexus between terrorism and crime will not be allowed to continue with a created political clientelism that seriously harms the interests of the State and the security of its people.
The country reported at least 901 deaths and 599 injuries, including civilians, security personnel and terrorists, in a total of 329 incidents of violence, which also included terrorist attacks and counter-terrorism operations.
KP and Balochistan, which share a porous border with neighboring Afghanistan, were the worst affected by the terrorist incidents, which accounted for more than 96% of the total violence across the country.
KP was the worst affected region, suffering almost 71% (638) of the total violence-related deaths and over 67% (221) of the violence incidents, followed by Balochistan, with over 25% of the deaths (230) and incidents (85).
