Pakistan forces kill five terrorists, soldier embraces martyrdom in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Army

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s security forces on Monday killed five terrorists during an intelligence-based operation in the northwestern district of Bajaur, following reports of militant presence in the area, the military said in a statement.

According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces conducted an operation in Khar after receiving intelligence about the presence of terrorists belonging to Indian-proxy "Fitna al-Khawarij."

Pakistan uses the term “khawarij” to refer to the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, an umbrella network of Indian-backed armed terrorist groups.

During the operation, five terrorists were killed, but in the intense exchange of fire, a senior officer, Major Adeel Zaman, embraced martyrdom.

The officer was leading his troops from the front and rendered the ultimate sacrifice, the statement added.

During the operation, weapons and ammunition were also recovered, which were being used in numerous terrorist activities against security forces as well as in the killing of innocent civilians, according to ISPR.

The military said follow-up sanitization operations were conducted to eliminate any remaining militants in the area.

The statement emphasized that counterterrorism efforts would continue under the Azm-e-Istehkam framework, adding that forces would operate “at full pace to wipe out the threats of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country.”