Seven Pakistan Army soldiers were martyred in an attack by a group of terrorists on a security forces' post and the following clearance operation in the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to Inter-Services Public Relations, a group of six terrorists attacked the checkpost in the early hours of Saturday.

However, when the troops foiled the initial attempt of intrusion, the terrorists rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the post, followed by multiple suicide bombing attacks. As a result, a portion of a building collapsed, resulting into the martyrdom of five soldiers.

The martyred soldiers included Havaldar Sabir (a resident of Khyber district), Naik Khurshid (a resident of Lakki Marwat district), Sepoy Nasir (a resident of Peshawar district), Sepoy Raja (a resident of Kohat district) and Sepoy Sajjad (a resident of Abbotabad district).

During the ensuing clearance operation, the troops, led by Lt Col Syed Kashif Ali, effectively engaged and killed all six terrorists.

However, during an intense exchange of fire, Lt Col Syed Kashif Ali (39, a resident of Karachi) and Capt Muhammad Ahmed Badar (23, a resident of Talagang district), were martyred.

The ISPR reported that a sanitization operation was being conducted to eliminate any other terrorist in the area, as the security forces were determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country. Such sacrifices of the brave soldiers further strengthened their resolve, the statement added.

Condolences pour in

President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the terrorist attack in Mir Ali and paid tribute to the martyred officers and personnel of Pakistan Army. He also reiterated the resolve to eradicate terrorism forever.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also strongly condemned the cowardly terrorist attack in North Waziristan. He expressed deep grief and sorrow over the martyrdom of seven personnel, including two officers, of the security forces.

The PM said that the martyred soldiers had foiled the nefarious designs of terrorists. The entire nation, including him, were proud of the sacrifices of the martyred soldiers, who had laid down their lives for the motherland, he added.

Federal minister Abdul Aleem Khan also condemned the tragic terrorist attack on security forces. "I salute and pay tribute to Colonel Kashif and the soldiers who sacrificed their lives fighting the terrorists bravely," he posted on his X account.

شمالی وزیرستان کے ضلع میرعلی میں دہشتگردوں کا سکیورٹی فورسز پرحملہ قابلِ مذمت اور افسوسناک ہے۔ دہشتگردوں کا مردانہ وار مقابلہ کرتے ہوئے جامِ شہادت نوش کرنے والے کرنل کاشف اور فوجی جوانوں کو سلام اور خراج عقیدت پیش کرتا ہوں۔ غم کی اس گھڑی میں متاثرہ خاندانوں کے ساتھ ہیں۔ اللہ…
— Abdul Aleem Khan (@abdul_aleemkhan) March 16, 2024

He further said that the nation stood with the aggrieved families in this hour of grief.

Condolences and prayers were also shared by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and others.