ISLAMABAD: Eleven Pakistan Army personnel — including Lieutenant Colonel Junaid Arif (39) and Major Tayyab Rahat (33) — were martyred during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Orakzai district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported on Wednesday.
According to the ISPR, the operation was launched on Tuesday night after security forces received credible intelligence about the presence of “Khwarij belonging to Indian proxy group, Fitna al-Khwarij”, the state-designated term for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
“During the conduct of the operation, 19 Indian-sponsored Khwarij were eliminated (‘sent to hell’) due to effective engagement by our troops,” the ISPR said.
It added that during the intense exchange of fire, Lt Col Junaid Arif, who was leading his men from the front, and his second-in-command Maj Tayyab Rahat, embraced martyrdom along with nine other brave soldiers.
The ISPR statement paid tribute to the sacrifices of the martyred soldiers, reaffirming the resolve of the armed forces to eradicate terrorism and maintain peace in the country.
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