At least seven Pakistan Army soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel and captain, embraced martyrdom on Saturday after gallantly fighting with terrorists as they attacked a security forces’ post in the general area Mir Ali of North Waziristan District, the Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement on Saturday.

According to the military’s media wing, a group of six terrorists attacked the post in the early hours today with the Pakistani troops foiling their initial attempt of intrusion before they rammed an explosive laden vehicle into the post, followed by multiple suicide bombing attacks, which led to collapse of portion of a building, resulting into the martyrdom of the brave sons of the soil.

“During the conduct of ensuing clearance operation, own troops led by Lieutenant Colonel Kashif, effectively engaged and sent to hell all six terrorists,” the statement read.

The shuhada, as per the ISPR, included Havildar Sabir (resident of District Khyber), Naik Khurshid (resident of District Lakki Marwat), Sepoy Nasir (resident of District Peshawar), Sepoy Raja (resident of District Kohat) and Sepoy Sajjad (resident of District Abbotabad).

Meanwhile, the 39-year-old Lieutenant Colonel Syed Kashif Ali — who was leading his troops from the front — and 23-year-old Captain Muhammad Ahmed Badar paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced shahadat during an intense exchange of fire with the terrorists, the ISPR mentioned.

Lieutenant Colonel Ali hailed from Karachi, while Captain Babar was a resident of District Talagang.

“Sanitisation operation is being conducted to eliminate any other terrorist present in the area, as security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve,” ISPR added.