Army officer martyred as militants attack border post in Khyber Agency

RAWALPINDI: An army officer embraced martyrdom on Saturday during cross-border firing in Khyber Agency, said a statement by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Terrorists from across the border fired on the newly-established Pakistani border post in Rajgal, martyring Lieutenant Arsalan, who was 22 years old, added the statement.

According to tribal sources, security forces retaliated against the militants. Officials in the political administration informed that at least three militants were killed and two were injured in retaliation. Militants have taken the dead bodies of killed accomplices and injured along with them.

PM, PUNJAB CM EXPRESS GRIEF:

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has expressed grief over the martyrdom of Lieutenant Arsalan Alam.

In a statement issued by the PM Office here, the prime minister said the war against terrorism, in fact, is a war to ensure the country’s existence as a sovereign nation.

“Our valiant forces have inflicted huge damage upon terrorist elements but at the same time have rendered huge sacrifices in doing so. Each drop of blood of our heroes is a testament to the fact that we all are united as a nation to cleanse our beloved motherland from terrorist elements,” the prime minister remarked.

He prayed for peace of the departed soul and expressed sympathies with the bereaved family of the martyred Lt Arsalan Alam.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also expressed sorrow at Lt Arsalan’s martyrdom and said he was proud of the young officer.

FUNERAL PRAYERS HELD:

The funeral prayers of Lieutenant Arsalan Alam were offered at Peshawar Garrison.

The funeral prayers were attended by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor, Peshawar corps commander, military, civilian officials and relatives of the martyred Army officer.

Earlier, the armed forces had announced the completion of a military action, Khyber Four, in the inaccessible Tirrah Valley of Khyber Agency. The authorities claimed that almost all of the Rajgaal area had been cleared of militants as a result of the military operation.

The authorities have claimed that over 900 check posts have been constructed all across the Pak-Afghan border, in connection with the border management plan. Fencing and construction of concrete border walls are also in progress. According to the authorities, the Afghan government only has 220 check posts on its territory along the border.