Four Soldiers Martyred in Heroic Defense of National Security
In a series of counterterrorism operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, the Pakistan Army eliminated 12 terrorists linked to what the military terms “Indian proxy groups.” According to a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), seven terrorists were killed during fierce exchanges of fire in North Waziristan and Chitral.
A targeted attack on a security checkpoint in North Waziristan’s Shawal region was repelled, resulting in the deaths of six terrorists. However, the intense operation also claimed the lives of four courageous soldiers. Among them was Lieutenant Daniyal Ismail, a 24-year-old officer from Mardan who led from the front and embraced martyrdom alongside Naib Subedar Kashif Raza (42, Chakwal), Lance Naik Fiaqat Ali (35, Haripur), and Sepoy Muhammad Hameed (26, Abbottabad).
One additional terrorist was neutralized during a separate operation in Chitral.
Strategic Successes in Balochistan Operations
Security forces also conducted two operations in Balochistan, eliminating five more terrorists connected to “Indian proxy Fitnah-al-Hindustan.” An intelligence-based raid in Loralai led to the deaths of four militants after a prolonged firefight. The ISPR confirmed the recovery of significant arms, ammunition, and explosives from the location.
These terrorists were responsible for multiple fatal attacks, including two high-casualty ambushes on the N-70 highway near Rarasham in August 2024 and February 2025, which resulted in the loss of 30 innocent lives. Another terrorist was eliminated in Kech District in a separate operation.
National Resolve Against Foreign-Sponsored Terrorism
President Asif Ali Zardari commended the military for its unwavering resolve, reiterating that operations against “Fitnah-ul-Hindustan” would continue until the threat of terrorism is completely neutralized. “Security forces are taking decisive action, and the entire nation stands united,” the President stated.
Last month, ISPR Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry presented evidence of Indian state-sponsored terrorism, alleging that Indian military elements had activated terrorist proxies in Pakistan post-Pahalgam to destabilize the region.
Despite a notable increase in terror activity following the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) end of its ceasefire in November 2022, Pakistan saw a decline in violence in April 2025, according to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS). Nonetheless, Pakistan ranked second in the Global Terrorism Index 2025, with 1,081 terror-related deaths — a 45% increase over the previous year.
