Six Pakistan Army personnel including two officers were martyred while eight India-sponsored terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij were neutralised during an intense exchange of fire in Hangu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Inter-Services Public Relations confirmed on Sunday.
According to the military’s media wing, the clash erupted when a security forces convoy came under attack from the militants in Hangu. Troops responded with effective fire and successfully eliminated the eight terrorists. The operation forms part of the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign under the vision of Azm-e-Istehkam, which was approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan.
The martyred personnel who fought bravely from the front included Captain Abuzar Farooq and Lieutenant Sheraz Babar. The other four who embraced martyrdom were Sepoy Shakeel Ahmed, Non-Combatant Ghulam Sajjad, Sepoy Hamza, and Sepoy Muhammad Usman Aziz. Their sacrifice has further strengthened the resolve of the armed forces to protect the country against foreign-sponsored terrorism.
This latest engagement follows earlier operations between 15 and 17 September in which ten militants of the same group were killed across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, though six soldiers also laid down their lives during those encounters. Sanitisation operations are currently under way in the area to ensure no remaining militants are left.
Pakistan has seen a noticeable rise in terrorist activity since 2021, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. A recent report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies noted that these two provinces together accounted for nearly 96 percent of all violence-related fatalities in the second quarter of 2026. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone recorded more than 61 percent of the deaths and the highest number of violent incidents nationwide.
The ISPR reiterated that the campaign against terrorism will continue at full pace until every foreign-backed threat is eliminated. The courage shown by the martyred soldiers stands as a powerful reminder of the commitment of Pakistan’s security forces to safeguard the nation and its people from such attacks.
