Daijiworld Media Network - Peshawar

Peshawar, Oct 30: In yet another tragic incident highlighting the growing unrest in Pakistan’s northwestern region, at least six soldiers, including a Captain, were martyred when an improvised explosive device (IED) targeted a security convoy in the volatile Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Wednesday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated.

According to the military’s media wing, the attack occurred in the Sultani area near the Afghan border. The convoy came under heavy fire from terrorists, sparking a fierce gunbattle between the assailants and security forces. During the exchange, an IED exploded near Dogar, leading to heavy casualties.

ISPR confirmed that one officer and five soldiers lost their lives in the blast. In retaliatory action, the security personnel neutralized seven terrorists in the encounter that followed.

Following the attack, security forces swiftly cordoned off the area and launched a massive search operation to trace the perpetrators responsible for the ambush.

Pakistan has been witnessing a sharp surge in terror activities, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where militants have been targeting police and security establishments. The renewed wave of violence began after the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its ceasefire with the federal government in 2022.

Just days earlier, on Sunday, Pakistani security forces foiled two major infiltration attempts from across the Afghan border, eliminating 25 militants, including four suicide bombers, and recovering a substantial cache of arms and explosives in separate operations in North Waziristan and Kurram districts, according to ISPR.

Authorities have reiterated their commitment to continue operations until the menace of terrorism is completely eradicated from the region.