RAWALPINDI: A Pakistan Army major embraced martyrdom, and 13 terrorists were killed during three separate operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to the military’s media wing.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated that an intelligence-based operation (IBO) was carried out in the Jani Khel area of Bannu district. Security forces engaged the terrorists’ location, successfully neutralizing two of them.
In another operation in North Waziristan, five terrorists were killed during an intense exchange of fire. Eight others sustained injuries.
“During the fierce encounter, Major Muhammad Awais, aged 31 and a resident of Narowal district, made the ultimate sacrifice. Leading his troops from the front, he embraced martyrdom,” the ISPR said in a statement.
The third operation took place in South Waziristan, where security forces eliminated six terrorists. Another eight were wounded during the clash.
Sanitization operations are ongoing to eliminate any remaining threats in the area. The Pakistan Army remains resolute in its mission to eradicate terrorism from the region, the statement added.
Pakistan has faced a surge in terrorist activity since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have been the hardest-hit provinces.
According to a report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), the third quarter of 2024 saw a sharp rise in violence. Fatalities increased by 90%, with 722 people killed and 615 injured in 328 incidents.
Nearly 97% of these deaths occurred in KP and Balochistan, marking the highest percentage in a decade. Over 92% of terror incidents and counter-terror operations were recorded in these regions.
The total fatalities in the first three quarters of 2024 have surpassed the entire year of 2023. As of September, at least 1,534 deaths have been reported compared to 1,523 in 2023.
The Pakistan Army continues to combat the growing menace of terrorism, striving for peace and security in the affected regions.
