Captain martyred, 7 terrorists killed in intelligence-based operation in Hangu: ISPR

Why This Matters

Key context: <p>The military’s media affairs wing said on Saturday that a captain was martyred while seven terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Hangu district.</p> <p>In a <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://ispr.gov.pk/press-release-detail?id=7750">statement</a>, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said security forces conducted an IBO in Hangu on Friday following reports about the presence of terrorists belonging to <em>Fitna al Khawarij</em> — a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.</p> <p>During the operation, troops effectively engaged the terrorists, it said.</p> <p>“In desperation, the <em>khawarij</em> took refuge inside a mosque, blatantly disregarding the sanctity of the place of worship. In ensuing fire exchange, seven <em>khawarij</em> belonging to Indian-sponsored <em>Fitna al Khawarij</em> were sent to hell,” it said.</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed media--uneven media--tweet' data-original-src='https://x.com/OfficialDGISPR/status/2085921259100283024'> <div class='media__item media__item--twitter '><span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficialDGISPR/status/2085921259100283024"></a> </blockquote> </span></div> </figure> <p>The statement went on to say that during the exchange of fire, 27-year-old Captain Hamza Akram, a resident of Punjab’s Narowal district who was “leading his troops from front and relentlessly pursuing” the terrorists, embraced martyrdom.</p> <p>“Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed <em>khawarij</em>, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against the security forces and law enforcement agencies as well as killing of innocent civilians,” it said.</p> <p>ISPR said that a sanitisation operation was being conducted to eliminate any other Indian-sponsored terrorists in the area.</p> <p>President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to the martyred captain, saying, “The motherland pays its profound tribute to the great sacrifice of its brave son.”</p> <p>“The entire nation is indebted to the eternal sacrifices of these brave sons for the motherland,” the president added, offering prayers for the bereaved family.</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed media--uneven media--tweet' data-original-src='https://x.com/PresOfPakistan/status/2085949582245023888'> <div class='media__item media__item--twitter '><span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a href="https://twitter.com/PresOfPakistan/status/2085949582245023888"></a> </blockquote> </span></div> </figure> <p>Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep grief over Captain Akram’s martyrdom while hailing his courage and devotion, state-run <em>APP</em> reported.</p> <p>In a statement issued by his office, PM Shehbaz lauded the security forces for eliminating seven terrorists “operating under the Indian patronage”.</p> <p>“The nation will never forget the sacrifices of its brave sons,” the press release quoted him as saying. He prayed for the captain’s elevated ranks and for patience for his family.</p> <p>The prime minister reiterated that operations against <em>Fitna al Khawarij</em> would continue till complete elimination of terrorism.</p> <p>“The sacrifices rendered by our brave armed forces and law-enforcement agencies for the defence, peace and security of the country and nation will not go in vain,” he asserted.</p> <p>Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also paid tribute to the martyred captain and offered his condolences to the bereaved family. He said that the officer had paid the ultimate sacrifice for the homeland and would remain alive in our hearts.</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed media--uneven media--tweet' data-original-src='https://x.com/MOIofficialGoP/status/2085932969286316183'> <div class='media__item media__item--twitter '><span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a href="https://twitter.com/MOIofficialGoP/status/2085932969286316183"></a> </blockquote> </span></div> </figure> <p>A day earlier, ISPR <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2021201">said </a>10 terrorists were killed in two separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It said that in the first encounter, a group of terrorists attempted to attack security forces’ checkposts in Azam Warsak area in South Waziristan, which was effectively thwarted, resulting in the deaths of eight terrorists.</p> <p>“In another encounter that took place in Dir district, own troops successfully neutralised two more <em>khawarij</em>,” it added.</p> <h2><a id="terrorist-commander-killed-in-bannu" href="#terrorist-commander-killed-in-bannu" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" title="Permalink"></a>Terrorist commander killed in Bannu</h2> <p>Separately, security forces killed a key terrorist commander, identified as Jamidullah, during an operation in Jani Khel area of KP’s Bannu district, a security official said.</p> <p>The official said that the terrorist commander was involved in terrorist activities and was considered a quadcopter expert.</p> <p>The official said that security forces conducted the operation in Jani Khel on the basis of intelligence reports, during which Jamidullah was targeted and killed.</p> <p>According to the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2019937"><u>Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies</u></a>, an Islamabad-based think tank, violence linked to terrorist attacks and counter-terrorism operations intensified sharply in July, making it the deadliest month of 2026, with 112 security personnel among 205 people killed.</p> This development from dawn.com highlights ongoing changes in the sector.