RAWALPINDI: Five Pakistan Army soldiers were martyred by an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kurram district on Friday, as per military’s media wing.
A press release from the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated that the IED exploded on a vehicle of the security forces in the general area of Sadda in the district.
The ISPR reported that 33-year-old Havildar Aqeel Ahmed from Okara, 30-year-old Lance Naik Muhammad Tafeer from Poonch, 24-year-old Sepoy Anosh Rufun from Attock, 26-year-old Sepoy Muhammad Azam Khan from Haripur, and 29-year-old Sepoy Haroon William from Islamabad “made the ultimate sacrifice and embraced martyrdom”.
It added that sanitisation of the area was being carried out to eliminate any terrorists present in the area. The ISPR said the perpetrators of the “heinous act” would be brought to justice.
“Security forces of Pakistan are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve.”
President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the attack and lauded the martyrs.
A statement from the President House said he appreciated the patriotism and sense of duty of the martyrs and praised the role of the security forces in the elimination of terrorism.
Expressing determination to root out terrorism, President Zardari said operations by law enforcement agencies would continue.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the nation saluted the martyrs.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also condemned the attack and paid tribute to the martyrs.
“The great sacrifices of martyrs will always be remembered. The martyred officers sacrificed themselves today for the peaceful tomorrow of the nation. The example of the eternal sacrifices of security forces is not found in history,” said a statement from the interior ministry on X (Twitter).
Mohsin Naqvi said the nation was committed to the complete elimination of the scourge of terrorism.
