Captain martyred, 7 terrorists killed in intelligence-based operation in Hangu: ISPR

On Saturday, the military's public relations department reported that a captain lost his life and seven terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based operation in Hangu district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) disclosed that the operation took place on Friday following intelligence reports indicating the presence of terrorists from the Fitna al Khawarij group, a banned faction affiliated with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.

The security forces engaged the terrorists in a fierce firefight, ultimately neutralizing the threat. The statement revealed that the khawarij terrorists had sought refuge inside a mosque, flouting religious sanctity, during the operation. In the ensuing exchange of fire, seven of these terrorists, allegedly linked to Indian-sponsored activities, were killed.

Among those martyred was 27-year-old Captain Hamza Akram, a resident of Punjab’s Narowal district who had been leading his troops from the front, actively pursuing the terrorists. The ISPR also reported that during the firefight, weapons and ammunition were recovered from the deceased terrorists, who had been actively engaged in various terrorist activities against security forces, law enforcement agencies, and the killing of innocent civilians.

A sanitization operation is underway to eradicate any remaining Indian-sponsored terrorists in the area. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi extended his condolences to the captain's family, acknowledging his ultimate sacrifice for the nation. Earlier, on the same day, ISPR announced that ten terrorists had been killed in two separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In the first encounter, terrorists attempting to assault security forces' checkposts in Azam Warsak area, South Waziristan, were thwarted, resulting in the deaths of eight terrorists. In a separate operation in Dir district, two more khawarij terrorists were neutralized by their own troops.