2 soldiers martyred, 14 terrorists killed in North Waziristan operations: ISPR

Two soldiers were killed and 14 terrorists were eliminated in operations in North Waziristan, according to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Saturday. The military's media wing reported that these strikes targeted multiple hideouts in Mir Ali, Datta Khel, and surrounding regions. Among the 14 terrorists killed were two Afghan nationals linked to the Indian-sponsored Fitna al Khwarij, a group the state designates as terrorists.

Havildar Asmat Ali and Naik Aftab Ali were among the two soldiers who lost their lives during the intense fire exchanges. Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the deceased terrorists, who had been actively involved in numerous violent acts, including the killing of innocent civilians. The ISPR emphasized that the counterterrorism campaign would persist, aiming to eradicate the threat of foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country.

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed appreciation for the security forces' successful operation and extended condolences to the families of the two martyred soldiers. The ISPR's statement followed a previous report that 74 terrorists were killed in similar operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The surge in terrorist activity in Pakistan, particularly in North Waziristan and Balochistan, has intensified since the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) abandoned a ceasefire deal with the government in November 2022.