ISLAMABAD; Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday vowed that Pakistan would continue to respond to terrorism with “full force” following a series of deadly attacks that martyred 19 soldiers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). His remarks came after days of intense operations in South Waziristan, Lower Dir, and other districts, where security forces engaged heavily armed militants.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), 12 soldiers were initially martyred in South Waziristan during fierce clashes in which 13 militants were killed. The military’s media wing described the insurgents as members of “Fitna al Khawarij,” a term the state uses to identify fighters of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
It later reported that seven additional soldiers embraced martyrdom during another encounter in Lower Dir, where 10 more militants were neutralised.
The ISPR said that between September 10 and 13, security forces eliminated 35 militants across two major engagements in KP. Intelligence reports confirmed the involvement of Afghan nationals in several of these attacks, raising concerns over cross-border infiltration and the use of Afghan soil for terrorism against Pakistan.
PM and Army Chief in Bannu
Following the operations, PM Shehbaz and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir travelled to Bannu, where they attended funeral prayers for the martyred soldiers and received a detailed briefing on the security situation from the Peshawar Corps commander. They also visited wounded personnel at the Combined Military Hospital.
In his remarks, the prime minister reiterated that Pakistan’s campaign against terrorism would not waver. “There will be no ambiguity and no compromise,” he said, adding that terrorist leaders and facilitators orchestrating attacks inside Pakistan were operating from Afghan territory with Indian backing.
He stressed that the Afghan interim government had been categorically asked to “choose between supporting the khawarij or standing with Pakistan.” Highlighting the alleged role of Afghan nationals in recent attacks, he called for the urgent repatriation of illegal Afghan residents currently living in Pakistan.
The prime minister also warned that “anyone facilitating or advocating” for terrorists or “acting as proxies for India” would be dealt with strictly. He praised the resilience of the people of KP for standing united with the state and armed forces “like a fortified wall” against external plots.
Escalating Violence
Pakistan has been facing a renewed wave of terrorist incidents since November 2022, when the TTP formally ended its ceasefire with the government and vowed to escalate attacks against security forces and law enforcement agencies. This year alone has seen numerous deadly assaults, particularly in KP and Balochistan.
Earlier in September, six soldiers were martyred when militants attempted to storm the Federal Constabulary headquarters in Bannu. In response, security forces intensified counter-terrorism operations, killing more than 14 fighters in Mohmand, North Waziristan, and Bannu.
In Balochistan, four militants were killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Mastung just a day earlier. Last month, 50 militants were eliminated over four days while attempting to infiltrate across the Afghan border into Balochistan.
The ISPR emphasised that sanitisation operations were continuing in all affected districts to eliminate remaining militant hideouts. Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the fighters, who the military said were “actively involved in numerous terrorist activities.”
Martyrdom in Lower Dir
In the Lower Dir operation, ISPR identified seven soldiers who laid down their lives while protecting civilians taken hostage by militants. Among the fallen were Naik Abdul Jalil of North Waziristan, Naik Gul Jan and Lance Naik Azmat Ullah of Lakki Marwat, Sepoy Abdul Malik of Khyber, Sepoy Muhammad Amjad of Malakand, Sepoy Muhammad Dawood of Swabi, and Sepoy Fazal Qayum of Dera Ismail Khan.
“These brave sons of soil fought gallantly and embraced shahadat while saving precious lives,” the ISPR stated.
National Resolve
Prime Minister Shehbaz paid tribute to the soldiers’ sacrifice, describing them as heroes who stood like a “solid rock” against terrorism. He assured the families of martyrs that the nation stood with them and prayed for the elevation of their ranks.
The ISPR reiterated Pakistan’s expectation that the Afghan interim government prevent the use of its soil for terrorism. It added that Pakistan’s security forces remain committed to “wiping out the menace of Indian-sponsored terrorism” and that the sacrifices of soldiers only strengthen national resolve.
“Pakistan will continue to confront terrorism head-on, with the full support of its people and armed forces,” the ISPR declared.
