KURRAM – Six Pakistan Army soldiers, including a captain, embraced martyrdom while seven terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Dogar area of Kurram District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Wednesday.
According to the ISPR, the operation was launched following intelligence reports about the presence of India-backed Fitna al-Khawarij terrorists in the region. During the intense exchange of fire, Captain Noman Saleem, a 24-year-old medical officer from Mianwali, fought valiantly while tending to his comrades and embraced shahadat along with five other soldiers.
Read More: Three terrorists held, weapons seized in IBO in Kurram Agency
The martyred soldiers were identified as Havildar Amjad Ali (39), Naik Waqas Ahmad (36), Sepoy Aijaz Ali (23), Sepoy Muhammad Waleed (23), and Sepoy Muhammad Shahbaz (32). The ISPR said a sanitisation operation was underway to eliminate remaining militants in the area as part of Operation Azm-e-Istehkam — the military’s ongoing campaign to eradicate terrorism.
President Asif Ali Zardari paid rich tribute to the fallen soldiers, praising their courage and reaffirming Pakistan’s resolve to eliminate terrorism in all forms.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, where cross-border terrorism has surged since the Taliban took control in 2021. Despite repeated calls from Islamabad for action against militant sanctuaries, the Taliban regime has been accused of harboring groups responsible for attacks inside Pakistan.
Read More: Captain among six troops martyred in Kurram IBO
In response to recent unprovoked border firing on October 12, Pakistan launched retaliatory strikes, reportedly killing over 200 militants, though 23 Pakistani soldiers were also martyred. Subsequent ceasefire talks, mediated by Qatar and Turkiye, failed to yield lasting results, with Pakistan accusing the Taliban delegation of presenting “illogical” and “unrealistic” arguments.