In a statement, the military’s media wing said that the martyred soldier was identified as Havildar Muhammad Zahir, 41, a resident of the Mardan district.

“Own troops effectively engaged terrorists’ location and apprehended one terrorist in injured condition,” it said and added that a sanitisation operation was being carried out to eliminate any terrorists found in the area.

“Security Forces of Pakistan are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve.”

Last month, the security forces killed three terrorists who were trying to infiltrate the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in the Batwar area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district.

“After fire exchange, all three terrorists were sent to hell. Weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the killed terrorists,” it added.

In another incident, an army man was martyred when terrorists from Afghanistan opened fire on a Pakistani Border Post in Spinwam area of North Waziristan district.