A Pakistan Army captain was martyred while seven militants were killed during an intelligence-based operation in Hangu district, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Friday.
The military’s media wing said security forces conducted the operation after receiving information about the presence of militants affiliated with what it described as the Fitna Al Khwarij.
According to ISPR, the militants came under effective engagement by security forces and, in an attempt to evade the operation, took shelter inside a mosque. The military said the militants disregarded the sanctity of the place of worship, resulting in an exchange of fire in which seven militants were killed.
Captain Hamza Akram, 27, was martyred while leading his troops from the front during the intense firefight, ISPR said.
Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the militants, who, according to the military, had been involved in multiple terrorist attacks targeting security forces, law enforcement personnel and civilians.
A sanitisation operation was underway to search the area for any remaining militants, ISPR said, adding that the counterterrorism campaign under the government-approved “Azm-i-Istehkam” initiative would continue “at full pace” to eliminate what it termed foreign-sponsored terrorism.
Separately, security forces killed three militants during a search and sanitisation operation in the Kambila and Asimabad areas of Balochistan, according to security sources.
The operation led to the clearance of an area spanning around 68 square kilometres, the sources said. Four other militants were injured, including militant commander Shaukat Mama, while 12 suspected individuals were detained.
Militant hideouts were also dismantled during the operation, while flags associated with Fitna al-Hindustan were removed from the cleared areas, according to the sources.
Security forces said Operation Radd-ul-Fitna 3 would continue until the complete elimination of terrorism.
