Three soldiers embrace martyrdom, four Khwarjites killed in Tirah valley clashes

RAWALPINDI: Three valiant soldiers of Pakistan Army embraced martyrdom while eliminating three khwarij terrorists during fire exchanges that took place between the security forces and the khwarij at three different locations in Tirah Valley of Khyber District.

According to an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) news release, due to the effective engagement of the Army troops the four khwarij got killed.

However, during the intense fire exchange, three brave sons of the soil identified as Havildar Inam Gul (37 years, resident of District Mianwali), Sepoy Muhammad Imran (29 years, resident of District Tank) and Sepoy Iltaf Khan (22 years, resident of District Mardan), who having fought gallantly, embraced Shahadat, the official news agency reported.

“Sanitisation operation is being conducted to eliminate any other khwarji found in the area as security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve,” the ISPR said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lauded officers and jawans of Pakistan Army for an operation against the terrorists in Tirah Valley and for eliminating four khwarij terrorists.

In a statement, he said that the officers and jawans of Pakistan Army were eliminating the terrorists of khwarji fitna from the soil of Pakistan.

He paid tribute to Havildar Inam Gul, Sepoy Muhammad Imran and Sepoy Iltaf Khan for embracing martyrdom in the operation against the terrorists. He prayed for the elevation of ranks of the martyrs and for patience for the bereaved families.

The PM said the war against terrorism would continue till its complete eradication from the country.

The whole nation stood shoulder to shoulder with the armed forces of Pakistan against terrorism, he stressed.

The officers and jawans of the armed forces of Pakistan always give preference to performance of duty over their lives, he said, adding that the whole nation was proud of its martyrs and their families.

President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack in Tirah Valley and expressed his condolences on the martyrdom of security forces personnel.

The president lauded the sacrifices of the security forces personnel who laid down their lives for the motherland, the President Secretariat Press Wing said in a press release. He paid tribute to the three martyred soldiers.

The president lauded the security forces for their actions against khwarij and “sending terrorists to hell”.

President Zardari also reiterated the resolve of continuing the action against terrorists.

“The entire nation is standing with its security forces to root out the scourge of terrorism,” the press release quoted the president as saying.

He also prayed for the high ranks of the departed souls in Jannah and for the bereaved families to bear the losses with fortitude.

He also wished early recovery of the injured.

Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi also paid homage to the three soldiers who were martyred in the Tirah Valley.

The minister expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyred soldiers

Naqvi said that the soldiers showed remarkable courage during the encounter, resulting in the elimination of four terrorists. He saluted the sacrifices of the martyrs who foiled the nefarious designs of the terrorists.