Staff Reporter
Rawalpindi
Ten personnel of the Pakistan armed forces, including an officer, were martyred in two separate attacks in North Waziristan tribal district and Balochistan, the military’s media wing said on Saturday.
In the first incident, six Pakistan Army soldiers were martyred when terrorists from across the Afghan border opened fire on a border patrolling party near Gurbaz area of North Waziristan district.
“Terrorists from across the border fire raided on Pakistan Army border patrolling party […] 6 soldiers embraced shahadat,” a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations read.
The deceased soldiers included Havaldar Khalid, Sepoy Naveed, Sepoy Bachal, Sepoy Ali Raza, Sepoy Mohammad Babar and Sepoy Ahsan.
In the second incident, four armed forces personnel were martyred when a contingent of Frontier Corps Balochistan troops was fired upon by militants during a combing/sensitisation operation between Hushab and Turbat, the ISPR said in a second press release.
The troops martyred in Balochistan include Capt Aaqib, Sepoy Nadir, Sepoy Atif Altaf and Sepoy Hafeezullah.
Martyred captain Aaqib Javed was laid to rest with military honours at his hometown in Sargodha. A number of local citizens and Pak Army officers attended the funeral prayers.
Aaqib left one brother and one sister aggrieved. His father is a retired navy officer. Captain Aqib belongs to Tehsil Bhera of Sargodha district of Punjab.
Father of the martyred captain said Aaqib got commission in Pak Army in 2015 and got promoted to captain’s rank in 2018. He said Aaqib was performing his duties in Balochistan from April 2019. The father said he is proud of his son’s martyrdom, adding that Aaqib had joined the unit on Sunday after spending holidays. He said Aaqib can’t get married now but he would be remembered as he is an inspiration not only for the family but for the whole area.
The martyrdom of six soldiers on the Pak-Afghan border and of four in Balochistan “is the sacrifice Pakistan [is] making for peace in the region”, ISPR Director General Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor tweeted.
The bodies of the martyred were shifted to the main city of the district, Miramshah, and the injured were shifted to a military hospital in DI Khan.
He said while the security of the tribal areas has been improved with efforts now focused on solidifying the western border, inimical forces are attempting to destabilise Balochistan.
“Their efforts shall [InshAllah] fail,” Maj Gen Ghafoor said. The attacks come days after the Pakistani civilian and military leadership discussed the regional security situation and Afghan peace with their American counterparts.
Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan condemned the terror attack in Balochistan on the FC convoy. “Coward terrorists have once again attacked the security forces that are making endless sacrifices for our country,” he said. Minister of Balochistan for Information Zahoor Buledi also mourned the loss of the captain along with sepoys who hailed from Swabi and Mastung.
