Pakistan Army captain, soldier martyred in cross-border attack from Afghanistan

BAJAUR AGENCY: Pakistan Army captain and a soldier were martyred in firing from across the Pak-Afghan border, according to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The military’s public affairs wing in a statement confirmed that Captain Junaid Hafeez and sepoy Rahim succumbed to their wounds in the attack launched by terrorists from Afghanistan.

In retaliatory fire from the Pakistan army soldiers, at least 10 terrorists were killed while others fled to the Afghan side of the border.

In September this year, a 22-year old army officer had embraced martyrdom in firing by terrorists on a border post in Rajgal valley.

Terrorists had attacked the border post from across the Pak-Afghan border, leaving lieutenant Arsalan Alam, who was commanding officer of the post, with fatal injuries, the military’s media wing said and added that the army officer died on the spot.

The price we pay for security vacuum on Afghan side of the border.
Salute to our martyrs. #OurMartyrsOurHeroes pic.twitter.com/VmqS7Mz7cw

— Asif Ghafoor (@peaceforchange) November 13, 2017

The border post was established recently after the Pakistan army successfully carried out an operation in Rajgal valley of Khyber Agency.

In July 2017, Pakistan Army had launched an operation called Khyber-4 in Rajgal Valley area of Khyber Agency. The operation was launched under Radd-ul-Fasaad, a countrywide anti-terror initiative by the military to wipe out terrorists.

Operation Khyber-4 was aimed at securing the international border with Afghanistan by preventing Daesh and other local militants on Afghan side of the border from infiltration.

The operation was completed in late August and it was announced by the DG ISPR Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor at a presser. He said that the “Khyber 4” operation, which would include the Pakistan air force, would focus on the border areas inside the Khyber Agency area, which is part of FATA.

He had said 52 terrorists were killed and five arrested by the armed forces during the operation.

Fighting had subsided in FATA in recent years and many internally displaced people have been sent back to villages.

Islamic State has had more success in neighboring Afghanistan, where it controls small chunks of land, but has also faced tough resistance from the U.S.-backed government in Kabul and local Afghan Taliban militants.

Pakistan’s military began building a fence along the 2,611 kilometer border with Afghanistan in May as part of its security program.