RAWALPINDI: Eleven Pakistani soldiers, including a Lieutenant Colonel and a Major, were martyred during an intelligence-based operation against India-backed militants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Orakzai district, the military’s media wing said on Tuesday.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces launched the operation on the night of October 7–8, 2025, acting on credible intelligence regarding the presence of militants belonging to the India-sponsored “Khawarij” group.
During the intense exchange of fire, 19 militants were killed, while Lieutenant Colonel Junaid Arif, aged 39, and Major Tayyab Rahat, aged 33 — both residents of Rawalpindi — embraced martyrdom while bravely leading their troops.
Nine other soldiers also laid down their lives in the line of duty. The martyred personnel include Naib Subedar Azam Gul (Khyber), Naik Adil Hussain (Kurram), Naik Gul Amir (Tank), Lance Naik Sher Khan (Mardan), Lance Naik Talish Faraz (Mansehra), Lance Naik Irshad Hussain (Kurram), Sepoy Tufail Khan (Malakand), Sepoy Aqib Ali (Swabi), and Sepoy Muhammad Zahid (Tank).
ISPR said security forces have launched a sanitization operation in the area to eliminate any remaining threats. The statement reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to eradicate all forms of terrorism, particularly India-sponsored militancy, emphasizing that the sacrifices of its soldiers further strengthen the nation’s determination to maintain peace and stability.
