PESHAWAR: Thirteen security personnel, including an army officer, lost their lives in two separate incidents in North Waziristan and Kurram districts on Saturday, officials confirmed.
At least six terrorists were killed in a major operation conducted in the Spinwam area of North Waziristan. ISPR said that Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Ali Shoukat, 43 years old from Faisalabad, led his troops gallantly and embracing martyrdom along with five other soldiers. The slain soldiers are Lance Naik Muhammad Ullah, 31 years old from Khyber, Lance Naik Akhtar Zaman, 30 years old from Lakki Marwat, Lance Naik Shahid Ullah, 29 years old from Tank, Lance Naik Yusaf Ali, 31 years old from Orkazai, and Sepoy Jameel Ahmed, 26 years old from Swat.
In response, the ISPR clarified that a sanitization operation was going on to clear the last remaining militants in the area, an exercise that Pakistan continued to undertake on its journey to rid itself of militancy.
In another joint intelligence-based operation in Swat’s Charbagh area, the law enforcement agencies were able to neutralize two terrorists, including Atta Ullah alias Mehran, who was a top militant commander involved in many attacks. Mehran was behind an ambush by militants on a diplomats’ convoy in Swat on September 22. A militant was also arrested from the scene and was injured.
In the Kurram area of the Barani river, in a tragic attack, seven Frontier Corps personnel lost their lives. According to police sources, terrorists attacked troops while the latter were collecting water from the river by opening fire. Some died, while others were injured. Injured people were shifted to Combined Military Hospital, Tall.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanks the security forces for their bravery and offered prayers for the martyrs and their families. According to the reports, President Asif Ali Zardari has also greeted the forces with special mention of the great efforts of Lt Col Shoukat and his team in bringing honor to the homeland.
