A Pakistan Army lieutenant colonel and a captain were among seven martyred after a group of terrorists attacked a security forces’ post in Mir Ali area of North Waziristan district in the wee hours on Saturday, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

“As our troops foiled an initial attempt of intrusion, the terrorists 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 Shahadat of five brave sons of the soil, it added.

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 were martyred in the initial attack.

The security forces conducted a clearance operation led by Lieutenant Colonel Kashif and killed all six terrorists, according to the ISPR.

However, Lieutenant Colonel Syed Kashif Ali, 39, a resident of Karachi; and Captain Muhammad Ahmed Badar, 23, a resident of district Talagang were martyred during the exchange of fire.

Meanwhile, sanitisation operation was being conducted to eliminate any other terrorists present in the area.

“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,” the ISPR said.