RAWALPINDI: Two officers of Pakistan Army and nine soldiers were martyred while 19 terrorists were eliminated in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Orakzai district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Tuesday night.
Lieutenant Colonel Junaid Tariq and Major Tayyab Rahat along with nine soldiers were martyred in an intense exchange of fire during the operation.
On the night of October 7 and 8, the security forces conducted the IBO on reported presence of Khwarij belonging to Indian Proxy, Fitna al Khwarij.
During the operation, 19 Indian sponsored Khwarij were sent to hell due to effective engagement by troops.
However, during the intense fire exchange, Lieutenant Colonel Junaid Tariq, 39, resident of District Rawalpindi, leading his troops from the front along with second-in-command Major Tayyab Rahat, 33, resident of District Rawalpindi, having fought gallantly, paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced shahadat along with his nine men.
The nine brave soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice are Naib Subedar Azam Gul, 38, resident of District Khyber; Naik Adil Hussain, 35, resident of District Kurram; Naik Gul Ameer, 34, resident of District Tank; Lance Naik Sher Khan, 31, resident of District Mardan; Lance Naik Talish Faraz, 32, resident of District Manshera; Lance Naik Irshad Hussain, 32, resident of District Kurram; Sepoy Tufail Khan, 28, resident of District Malakand; Sepoy Aqib Ali, 23, resident of District Swabi; and Sepoy Muhammad Zahid, 24, resident of District Tank.
Sanitization operation is being conducted to eliminate any other Indian-sponsored Kharji found in the area, as the security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of Indian-sponsored terrorism from the country and such sacrifices of our brave men further strengthen our resolve, the ISPR statement said.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif have commended security forces for the courageous operation in Orakzai district. In a statement, the president said Lieutenant Colonel Junaid Tariq Shaheed, Major Tayyab Rahat Shaheed and other martyrs are national heroes. The prime minister, in his statement, said the sacrifices of the fearless personnel of security forces will never go in vain.
Meanwhile, funeral prayer of Lieutenant Colonel Junaid Tariq and Major Tayyab Rahat was offered at the Chaklala Garrison, Rawalpindi.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, federal ministers, military and civil officers and public attended the funeral. The prime minister, while paying tribute to the 11 Shuhada of Orakzai incident, resolved that Pakistani nation stands resolute and firm against this menace of terrorism and the Shahada’s ultimate sacrifice is a reminder of the unwavering resolve of the nation to defend the motherland at all costs. Shuhada were laid to rest in their native towns with full military honors.