Six Soldiers Martyred, Seven Terrorists Killed in Kurram Operation Against India-Backed Militants
Six Pakistan Army soldiers, including a young captain, embraced martyrdom in Kurram District during an operation against India-backed Fitna al-Khawarij terrorists, as Islamabad continues to face rising cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan despite peace talks.
Six Pakistan Army soldiers, including Captain Noman Saleem, were martyred while seven terrorists were killed in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Dogar area of Kurram District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operation targeted India-backed Fitna al-Khawarij terrorists. Captain Noman, a 24-year-old medical officer from Mianwali, fought valiantly alongside his men before embracing martyrdom. The other fallen heroes included Havildar Amjad Ali, Naik Waqas Ahmad, Sepoy Aijaz Ali, Sepoy Muhammad Waleed, and Sepoy Muhammad Shahbaz. A sanitisation operation is ongoing to eliminate any remaining militants under the broader Azm-e-Istehkam campaign.
President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to the martyred soldiers, praising their courage and reaffirming Pakistan’s resolve to eradicate terrorism. The ISPR emphasized that the armed forces remain fully committed to defending the nation against both domestic and foreign-backed threats. This latest operation underscores Pakistan’s continued struggle against cross-border militancy, which has intensified since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021. Despite repeated calls for action, the Taliban regime has largely ignored Pakistan’s concerns and continued to provide sanctuary to militant groups.
Pakistan-Taliban Border Tensions Escalate Despite Ceasefire Talks
Tensions escalated further after the Taliban launched unprovoked attacks along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border on October 12, prompting a swift military response from Pakistan that killed over 200 militants. However, the clashes also resulted in the martyrdom of 23 Pakistani soldiers. Subsequent peace talks mediated by Qatar in Doha and Turkiye in Istanbul sought to establish lasting calm but ended without progress. Pakistani officials described the Taliban’s stance during negotiations as “illogical” and “detached from ground realities,” leaving the future of cross-border peace uncertain.
