Three soldiers were martyred as the security forces foiled an infiltration attempt by a group of banned Khawarij al Fitna through the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district, the military’s media wing said on Monday.

In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations said that the martyred soldiers were However Naik Inayat Khan, 36, a Khyber district resident, Lance Naik Umer Hayat, 35, a Mansehra district resident, and Sepoy Waqar Khan, 25, a Peshawar district resident.

Five Fitna-al-Khawarij members were killed while four of its members got injured, it added.

The statement stated that Pakistan has been asking the interim Afghan government to ensure effective border management on their side of the border. “Interim Afghan government is expected to fulfil its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by Khawarij for perpetuating acts of terrorism against Pakistan,” it said.

“Security forces of Pakistan remain committed to secure its borders and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve,” the statement said.

In his address to the military parade on the eve of Independence Day, Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir had urged Afghanistan to not “prioritise the mischief of the Fitna al-Khawarij over their longstanding, well-wishing, and brotherly neighbour.”

Last month, the government declared the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan as “Fitna al-Khawarij”. The decision is aimed at highlighting the “true nature and ideology” of the terrorist group. The notification stated that the TTP has distorted the image of Islam under the guise of religion.

The notification emphasizes that the TTP has irrevocably damaged Islam and that these terrorists have no genuine interest in the religion. According to Islamic teachings, such corrupt elements are referred to as “Fitna al-Khawarij.”

Last week, Lieutenant Uzair Mehmood Malik succumbed to injuries sustained during a firefight with militants in the Tirah Valley on August 9. Lieutenant Malik was leading his team against militants in the Tirah Valley when he was critically injured in the exchange of fire. The operation resulted in the killing of four terrorists.

On August 10, three soldiers were martyred in an exchange of fire with Khawarij at three different locations in the Tirah Valley of Khyber district on Friday.