Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Raheel Sharif on Sunday attended the funeral of Captain Umair, an army officer killed in Shawal on Saturday, Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Asim Bajwa said.
The captain was one of four security personnel who lost their lives during an exchange of fire with militants while conducting an operation near the Pak-Afghan border, the ISPR said on Saturday.
“They didn’t allow terrorists to escape from Shawal,” Bajwa tweeted.
A video aired by a local TV channel showed Captain Umair saying he is hopeful that upcoming operations will clear the remaining pockets of militants over the next few months.
Speaking on behalf of the COAS on Sunday, Bajwa said the Army was determined to eliminate “terrorists” from “every nook and corner in the country”.
According to official statements, over 3,500 militants have been killed in Operation Zarb-e-Azb, while the offensive has forced over a million civilians to leave their homes and move to other areas of the country.
Gen Raheel Sharif on Wednesday ordered troops to march on the last bastion of terrorists in Shawal valley of North Waziristan to take Operation Zarb-e-Azb to its logical end.
COAS VISITS CMH:
Gen Raheel Sharif visited those injured during the ongoing phase of the operation at Combined Military Hospital (CMH).
The army chief also enquired about the well-being of the Afghan National Army (ANA) soldier being treated at CMH.
ANA soldier Alam Zeb was evacuated from Bajaur on February 25 in injured condition (head injury) by the Pakistan Army and was admitted to CMH Peshawar, the ISPR director general tweeted.
The Afghan soldier had sustained injuries in Afghanistan due to firing by the terrorists and was evacuated to a Pakistani post and later to Peshawar.