Army soldier martyred in Khyber Agency cross-border firing

RAWALPINDI (Monitoring Desk): A soldier of the Pakistan Army embraced martyrdom after terrorists fired from across the Afghan border on an Army border post, a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations said on Tuesday.

The incident occurred at the recently cleared area around Mustil pass, an important passage from Afghanistan into Rajgal, in Khyber Agency.

The martyred soldier was identified by ISPR as Naib Subedar Azher Ali, whose funeral prayers will be offered at Peshawar Garrison. The “jasde khaki of shaheed will be taken to his native town where shaheed will be laid to rest with full military honour,” said the Pakistan Army’s media cell.

On Sunday, the army chief discussed regional security, among other issues, with President Ashraf Ghani during his day-long visit to Kabul.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said both sides reviewed the prevailing security environment in the region and the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

The army chief offered Pakistan’s complete support in achieving shared interests in the war against terrorism, including training and capacity building of the Afghan security forces.

On September 23, a 22-year-old officer of the Pakistan Army, Lieutenant Arsalan Alam, was martyred during firing by terrorists from across the border in Rajgal, Khyber Agency, according to ISPR.

Terrorists fired from across the border on the newly established Pakistani border post in Rajgal, martyring Lieutenant Arsalan Alam, who was commanding the post when he got hit, the ISPR had said.

Later, while visiting the grave of the martyred officer, General Bajwa said some people and hostile agencies from abroad are trying to destabilise Pakistan and criticise the Army. General Bajwa further had said that such elements fear the Army as it is “a hurdle in their nefarious designs”.

The Army in August announced the successful completion of Operation Khyber-4 in the Rajgal area of Khyber Agency. In a press conference, Director-General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor had announced that 253 square kilometers had been cleared of militant presence.

He added that a separate clearance operation was also underway in Khyber Valley. The ISPR said during the operation, hundreds of landmines were defused which were planted by the militants to slow the advance of the Army and to inflict casualties on the advancing forces. Two soldiers were martyred and 15 were injured during the operation in the volatile area.

In order to create a more permanent security presence in the volatile area, the Army also set up 91 check posts in Rajgal valley. Operation Khyber-4 was launched to stop infiltration of terrorists from across the Pak-Afghan border.