RAWALPINDI: The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday said that security forces killed seven terrorists during an intelligence-based sanitization operation in Barkhan District, while five soldiers, including a major, embraced martyrdom during an intense exchange of fire.
Shahid Afridi Calls Civil Award a Proud Honour for Entire Pakistani Nation
According to the ISPR statement, troops of the Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps Balochistan launched the operation on the morning of May 13, 2026, in the general area of Nosham, Barkhan District, to eliminate terrorists linked to what the military described as Indian-backed “Fitna Al Hindustan.”
During the operation, security forces located a group of militants and engaged them in a heavy gun battle. The military said seven terrorists were killed during the exchange, while weapons, ammunition, and explosives were also recovered from the militants.
However, during the intense firefight, five personnel of the security forces sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.
The martyrs were identified as Tauseef Ahmed Bhatti, aged 31 and a resident of Pakpattan; Fida Hussain, aged 36 and a resident of Sukkur; Zakir Hussain, aged 32 and a resident of Skardu; Suhail Ahmed, aged 21 and a resident of Khanewal; and Muhammad Ayaz, aged 24 and a resident of Rahim Yar Khan.
The ISPR stated that a sanitization operation was continuing in the surrounding areas to eliminate any remaining terrorists present in the region.
The military reiterated that Pakistan’s security forces and law enforcement agencies would continue their nationwide counterterrorism campaign under the vision of Azm-e-Istehkam, approved by the Federal Apex Committee under the National Action Plan.
According to the ISPR, the ongoing operations aim to eliminate the threat of foreign-sponsored terrorism and ensure long-term peace and stability across the country.
The sacrifices of the martyrs were widely hailed as a symbol of courage, patriotism, and unwavering commitment to defending Pakistan against terrorism.
