A Pakistan Army captain and three soldiers were martyred in separate gun battles with terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North and South Waziristan districts on Tuesday, the military’s media wing said.

In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations said the martyred soldier was Captain Muhammad Osama bin Arshad, 24, a Rawalpindi district resident.

The statement added that two terrorists were killed during the fierce engagement with security forces at the terrorists’ location in North Waziristan.

In another incident, three soldiers were martyred in an exchange of fire with terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s South Waziristan on Tuesday, the military’s media wing said.

In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations said the martyred soldiers include Sepoy Asad Ullah, 30, a Mitiari resident, Sepoy Muhammad Sufyan, 28, a DI Khan resident, and Non Combatant Bearer Zain Ali, a Bahwalnagar resident.

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 from the country and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve.”

Last month, 12 army soldiers were martyred in two different security operations in Lakki Marwat and Kurram.

Pakistan has long maintained that Afghan soil was being used against Pakistan, demanding interim Taliban government take action against outlawed groups in the country.

“TTP terrorists are continuously committing acts of terrorism in Pakistan,” ISPR Director General Major General Ahmed Sharif told a press conference on May 7.

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He added that there was “concrete evidence” to support such claims. The Foreign Office has registered 12 protests and the army chief has taken a clear stance that Pakistan has its “reservations on the hideouts” of banned outfits in Afghanistan.

“Pakistan will leave no stone unturned to eradicate terror networks and provide protection to its citizens at all costs,” the ISPR DG had said.