The military’s media affairs wing said Saturday that a captain was martyred while seven terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Hangu district.
In a statement, Inter-Services Public Relations said security forces conducted the operation on Friday following reports of terrorists belonging to Fitna al Khawarij, the state’s term for militants affiliated with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, present in the area. Troops effectively engaged the terrorists during the operation, ISPR said.
“In desperation, the khawarij took refuge inside a mosque, blatantly disregarding the sanctity of the place of worship. In the ensuing fire exchange, seven khawarij, belonging to Indian-sponsored Fitna al Khawarij, were sent to hell,” the statement said.
During the exchange of fire, 27-year-old Captain Hamza Akram, a resident of Punjab’s Narowal district, was martyred while “leading his troops from the front and relentlessly pursuing” the terrorists. ISPR said weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants, who it said had been actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against security forces and law enforcement agencies, as well as the killing of innocent civilians. A sanitisation operation is now underway to eliminate any remaining Indian-sponsored terrorists in the area.
President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to the martyred captain, saying, “The motherland pays its profound tribute to the great sacrifice of its brave son.” He added, “The entire nation is indebted to the eternal sacrifices of these brave sons for the motherland,” and offered prayers for the bereaved family.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also paid tribute to the officer and offered condolences to his family, saying the captain had paid the ultimate sacrifice for the homeland and would remain alive in the nation’s hearts.
