- Major Muhammad Awais of Narowal embraces martyrdom.
- Operations carried out in Bannu, South and North Waziristan.
- Security forces committed to eliminating terrorism: ISPR.
RAWALPINDI: A Pakistan Army major embraced martyrdom as 13 terrorists were killed in three separate operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Army’s media wing said on Thursday.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), an intelligence-driven operation was carried out on the reported presence of terrorists in the general area of Jani Khel in Bannu district.
During the operation, the ISPR said that the security force troops actually attacked the location of the terrorists and killed two of them.
Meanwhile, another IBO took place in North Waziristan district where five terrorists were effectively neutralized by security forces in an exchange of fire while eight were injured.
“However, during the intense exchange of fire, Major Muhammad Awais (age: 31, resident of Narowal district), who was leading his troops from the front, paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced Shahadat,” the statement said. press release.
The ISPR added that in a third encounter that took place in South Waziristan district, security forces managed to neutralize six terrorists and injure eight others.
Disinfection operations are underway to eliminate any further terrorists found in the area, with Pakistan security forces determined to eliminate the terrorist threat, the statement said.
Pakistan has been reeling from an increase in terrorist attacks since the return of the Taliban government to neighboring Afghanistan, and the two neighboring provinces are the worst affected.
The third quarter of 2024 (July-September) witnessed a sharp increase in the number of deaths due to terrorist violence and anti-terrorism campaigns, with violence increasing by 90%, according to a report published by the Center for Research and of security studies (CRSS).
A total of 722 people were killed, including civilians, security personnel and outlaws, while 615 others were injured in 328 incidents recorded during the reporting period.
Nearly 97% of these deaths occurred in KP and Balochistan, the highest percentage in a decade, and over 92% of these incidents of terrorist attacks and security force operations were recorded in the same provinces.
The total number of deaths over the three quarters of this year has now exceeded the total deaths recorded for all of 2023; the death toll rose to at least 1,534 in the first three quarters, compared to 1,523 in 2023.