RAWALPINDI: A young army officer embraced martyrdom while seven terrorists belonging to the Indian-sponsored network Fitna-al-Khawarij were killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Hangu District, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Saturday.
According to the ISPR press release, the operation was conducted on August 7, 2026, on the reported presence of Khawarij in the area.
During the operation, troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location. In desperation, the terrorists took refuge inside a mosque, blatantly disregarding the sanctity of the place of worship, the statement said. In the ensuing exchange of fire, seven terrorists were killed.
However, during the intense fire exchange, Captain Hamza Akram, 27, resident of District Narowal, who was leading his troops from the front, fought gallantly and paid the ultimate sacrifice, embracing shahadat.
Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the killed terrorists, who, according to the ISPR, remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against security forces and law enforcement agencies as well as the killing of innocent civilians.
A sanitization operation is being conducted to eliminate any other terrorists present in the area.
It is pertinent to mention here that the incident is the latest in a series of intensified IBOs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in recent weeks.
As reported earlier by MM News in this operational cycle, security forces have been carrying out sustained operations against Indian-sponsored networks.
On the night of July 28 and 29, 32 terrorists were killed in operations in Khyber District and Balochistan’s Nushki District. This was followed by engagements in Azam Warsak, South Waziristan, and Dir District where 10 terrorists were killed after an attempt to attack security check posts was foiled.
While the counter-terrorism campaign under Operation Radd al-Fitna 3 continues in Balochistan, KP has also witnessed retaliatory attacks on soft targets, including recent grenade attacks in Lakki Marwat and Chaman.
The ISPR reiterated that the relentless counter-terrorism campaign under the vision of “Azm-e-Istehkam,” as approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored terrorism, adding that such sacrifices of brave soldiers further reinforce the unwavering commitment to safeguarding the nation at all costs.
