Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir stated that the Pakistan Army, along with law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and the nation, will never be coerced by the “cowardly tactics of terrorists”, as per a press release from the military’s media wing.
The COAS made these remarks during his visit to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district, while interacting with officers and troops. He called out terrorists who disrupt peace in the country, emphasizing that these elements hold a misguided belief that they can challenge the unwavering determination of soldiers and the authority of the state.
Expressing his commitment to continue the fight against terrorism, General Munir stressed that the sacrifices of those who have laid down their lives will always be honored, paying tribute to their bravery and dedication to the nation.
Recently, a suicide attack on a military convoy in Bannu’s Janikhel area resulted in the martyrdom of nine soldiers, with five others sustaining injuries. The funeral prayers of these soldiers were held, attended by senior military and civil administrative officers and troops. They will be laid to rest with full military honor in their respective hometowns.
During his visit, the COAS was briefed on the ongoing operations and the overall security situation in the area. He also visited the Combined Military Hospital Bannu to inquire about the well-being of the injured soldiers.
Appreciating the troops’ high morale and unwavering resolve, General Munir affirmed that the military will continue to act as a bulwark against terrorism, safeguarding the nation from this menace.
In a separate incident, a soldier was martyred as troops engaged in an exchange of fire with militants, resulting in the killing of a terrorist in Khyber district’s Tirah area. Havildar Muntazir Shah, a resident of Swabi district, fought valiantly and embraced martyrdom. The slain terrorist had been involved in numerous attacks against security forces and innocent civilians. The area is currently being sanitized to eliminate any remaining terrorists.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in terrorist activities in recent months, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan following the termination of the ceasefire by the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) last year.
The military’s media wing reported that six soldiers were martyred in an exchange of fire in South Waziristan district, while last month saw the martyrdom of 12 soldiers in separate military operations in the Zhob and Sui areas of Balochistan – the highest single-day death toll due to terrorist attacks this year.
A report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies highlighted a significant increase in terror and suicide attacks in the first half of this year, resulting in the loss of 389 lives across the country.