Lt Col Shahzada, 43, a resident of Mansehra, and Sepoy Karamat Shah, 28, of Peshawar, were killed in the attack. PHOTO: ISPR
RAWALPINDI:
An Army officer and a soldier embraced martyrdom in a suicide attack in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district, the Army’s media wing said on Saturday.
According to Inter-Services Public Relations, a convoy of security forces was “targeted by Indian proxy Fitna al Khawarij” while an intelligence operation (IBO) was conducted on the reported presence of terrorists, including a suicide bomber.
The state uses the term Fitna al Khawarij to refer to terrorists belonging to the banned group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The statement added that five terrorists were also killed during the operation.
“A vehicle-borne suicide bomber was intercepted by the ruling group, thereby foiling their nefarious plan to target innocent civilians and law enforcers in Bannu, thereby averting a major catastrophe,” the ISPR said.
“During the operation, khwarij were located and after an intense exchange of fire, five khwarij were sent to hell by the security forces. However, in desperation, Khwarij rammed the explosives-laden vehicle into one of the vehicles of the leading group,” he added.
As a result, Lt Col Shahzada Gul Faraz (age: 43, resident of Mansehra District), a courageous commander renowned for his daring actions, who led his troops from the front, embraced Shahadat along with Sepoy Karamat Shah (age: 28, resident of Peshawar District).
“The Khwarij continue their terrorist activities inside Pakistan using Afghan soil, violating the sanctity of the holy month of Ramazan. This clearly indicates that they have no connection with Islam,” the press release said.
The Afghan Taliban regime has so far failed to prevent the Khwarij from using Afghan soil for terrorist activities inside Pakistan, including during the holy month of Ramazan. Pakistan will show no restraint and operations will continue against the perpetrators of this heinous and cowardly act as justified retaliation against Khwarij, irrespective of their location.
“The anti-terrorism campaign being carried out by the security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan under the ‘Azm-e-Istehkam’ vision (as approved by the Supreme Federal Committee on National Action Plan) will continue in full swing to eliminate the menace of foreign sponsored and supported terrorism from the country and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our unwavering commitment to safeguard our nation at all costs,” the press release said.
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the terrorist attack.
The President and Prime Minister expressed deep sadness and grief over the martyrdom of Lt. Col. Shahzada Gul Faraz and Sepoy Karamat Shah.
The President said the great sacrifices of their martyrs constituted a national asset, the media wing of the Presidential Secretariat said in a press release.
The President and Prime Minister conveyed their sincere condolences to the families of the martyrs and prayed for the upliftment of their ranks in Jannah and to grant patience and strength to the bereaved families.
The president also reaffirmed his determination that operations against Fitna al-Khwarij continue without discrimination and with full force, stressing that the nation would be protected at all costs.
The President added that the terrorists who violated the sanctity of the holy month of Ramazan had no connection with Islam.
The prime minister praised security forces for foiling Fitna al-Khwarij’s nefarious plans by eliminating five terrorists during the operation, the media wing of the Prime Minister’s Office said in a press release.
He further observed that the act of terrorism carried out by Fitna al-Khawarij, during the blessed month of Ramazan, was proof that terrorists had no religion.
The Prime Minister said the security forces acted quickly, saving the city from major destruction, adding that under the vision of Azm-e-Istehkam, the security forces were achieving major successes in the fight against terrorism.
He further said that the entire nation stands with the Pakistani armed forces in this war against terrorism.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed his determination to completely eradicate all forms of terrorism from the country.
