Army major martyred, five militants killed in Bajaur IBO: ISPR

RAWALPINDI (RNN TV) – A Pakistan Army major was martyred and five militants were killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) carried out by security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Monday.

According to the military’s media wing, the operation was conducted in the Khar area on reported information about the presence of militants linked to the group referred to as Fitna al-Khawarij.

During the operation, troops engaged the militants, resulting in the killing of five, the ISPR said. However, during an intense exchange of fire, Major Adeel Zaman, 36, a resident of DeraAttachments: 0
era Ismail Khan district, was martyred while leading his troops from the front.

The ISPR said weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants, who were allegedly involved in multiple attacks against security forces and law enforcement agencies, as well as in the killing of civilians.

Following the operation, security forces carried out sanitisation efforts in the area to eliminate any remaining militants, the statement added.

Reaffirming its resolve, the military said the counterterrorism campaign under the “Azm-e-Istehkam” initiative would continue to counter what it described as foreign-sponsored militancy.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the security forces for the operation and paid tribute to Major Zaman. In a statement, he expressed condolences to the martyred officer’s family and said the nation stood united with the armed forces in the fight against terrorism. The prime minister also reiterated the government’s commitment to eliminating terrorism in all its forms.

Pakistan has witnessed a rise in militant violence, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since 2021. Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban authorities to prevent militant groups from using Afghan territory to launch attacks in Pakistan, a demand Kabul has largely denied, contributing to strained relations between the two neighbours.