Army says officer, soldier martyred, five terrorists killed in Bannu attack

Two members of the Pakistani security forces, including Lt Col Shahzada Gul Faraz and Sepoy Karamat Shah, were martyred on Saturday during a counter-terrorism operation in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district, the military said.

According to the military’s media wing, the ISPR, the operation was launched in response to the suspected presence of terrorists from the Indian-backed group “Fitna al Khwarij,” a code word used by the authorities for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, including a vehicle-borne suicide bomber. However, the security forces were able to intercept the bomber, foiling what it called a “major attack” on civilians and security forces in Bannu city.

The military said five terrorists were killed in the exchange of gunfire. However, the terrorists rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into one of the lead convoy vehicles, martyring Lt Col Shahzada, 43, from Mansehra, and Sepoy Karamat Shah, 28, from Peshawar.

The military reported that terrorists are still using Afghan territory to attack Pakistan, blaming Afghan Taliban for not stopping cross-border attacks during Ramazan.

It also said that the country’s anti-terror operation under the “Azm-e-Istehkam” vision, approved by the National Action Plan federal apex committee, would continue until foreign-supported terrorism is eradicated.

President Asif Ali Zardari condemned what he called a “cowardly terrorist attack” and expressed “deep sorrow and grief” over the martyrdom of the two soldiers. “The great sacrifice of the martyrs is the nation’s asset,” he said, offering condolences and prayers for the families.

He also said, “Operations against Fitna al Khawarij will continue without discrimination and with full force; there will be no compromise on the protection of the nation,” and that terrorists who desecrate the holiness of Ramazan “have nothing to do with Islam.”

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the attack and expressed grief over the death of the soldiers. He prayed for the departed souls and conveyed condolences to their families. He praised the soldiers for killing five terrorists and thwarting their plans, saying, “The attempt by Fitna al Khawarij terrorists to carry out terrorism in the blessed month of Ramazan proves that terrorists have no religion.”

He added that security forces’ timely action saved the city from major destruction and said, “Under the vision of Azm-e-Istehkam, security forces are achieving major successes against terrorism. The entire nation stands with Pakistan’s armed forces in this war. We are determined to completely eradicate every form of terrorism from the country.”

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi paid tribute to the fallen soldiers, saying Lt Col Shahzada “wrote a history of courage and bravery,” and added, “Salute to Shaheed Colonel Shahzada Gul Faraz and Sepoy Karamat Shah.”

He said the officer sacrificed his life to foil the terrorists’ “nefarious designs” and that the nation would always remember his “great sacrifice,” adding that the country would remain indebted to its martyrs.