The operation targeted Indian backed Fitna al-Khawarij terrorists in the Khar area. Security forces engaged the militants effectively, eliminating five of them. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered.

Major Adeel Zaman, 36, from Dera Ismail Khan, was leading his troops from the front. During the intense firefight, he fought bravely and embraced martyrdom, the ISPR added.

Sanitization operations were followed to ensure no other militants remained in the area. The military reaffirmed that the counterterrorism campaign under the “Azm-e-Istehkam” vision will continue at full pace to eliminate foreign-backed terrorism.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the martyred officer and praised the security forces. He expressed condolences to Major Zaman’s family and emphasized the nation stands united with the armed forces against terrorism.

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Pakistan has seen a rise in terrorist incidents, especially in KP and Balochistan, after the Afghan Taliban came to power in 2021. Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Taliban in Kabul to stop militants from using Afghan soil against Pakistan, but these requests have mostly been ignored.

Cross-border attacks from Afghanistan led to armed clashes in October, when Taliban-backed militants fired on Pakistani posts. Pakistan retaliated, killing over 200 militants, but lost 23 soldiers during the clashes.