Three Pakistani soldiers were martyred in a gunfight with terrorists attempting to infiltrate from Afghanistan near Bajaur in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as reported by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Monday.
According to the military’s media wing, the incident occurred during the night between August 18 and 19, when a group of terrorists tried to breach the Pak-Afghan border. The soldiers noticed their movement and successfully engaged them. As a result, five terrorists were killed, and four others were injured.
The soldiers who lost their lives in the battle were identified as Sepoy Waqar Khan, 25, Lance Naik Umer Hayat, 35, and Naik Inayat Khan, 36.
The ISPR highlighted that Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Afghan interim government to manage the border effectively and prevent terrorists from using Afghan soil to launch attacks against Pakistan. The ISPR reaffirmed that Pakistan’s security forces are committed to protecting the nation’s borders and that the sacrifice of these brave soldiers only strengthens this resolve.
In a related event, three terrorists were killed by security forces during an intelligence-based operation in Razmak, KP, on Friday.
The rise in terrorism has been a major concern in Pakistan, especially after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021. Most of the attacks have occurred in provinces bordering Afghanistan, particularly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
A report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) noted that in the second quarter of this year alone, 380 people lost their lives, and 220 were injured in incidents linked to violence. These casualties stemmed from 240 incidents involving both terror attacks and counter-terrorism operations.
In response to the growing threat, the federal cabinet approved Operation Azm-e-Istehkam in June, following recommendations from the Central Apex Committee under the National Action Plan. This operation aims to strengthen the country’s counter-terrorism efforts.