ISLAMABAD: Ten Pakistani soldiers who lost their lives on Saturday in two separate militant attacks in the country’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces were laid to rest on Sunday with full military honors.
Captain Aaqib Javed, a young officer buried in his hometown of Sargodha who died in the Balochistan ambush, was to be married on August 24, a local news channel reported.
The bodies of all the soldiers were transported to their native cities and villages. Their relatives performed the final funeral rites, and uniformed personnel offered gun salutes and placed wreaths on their graves.
Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Imran Khan paid his condolences and respect to the ten fallen soldiers.
“I salute our armed forces personnel who continue to lay down their lives fighting terrorists to keep the nation safe. My condolences & prayers go to the families of the 10 brave soldiers, including an officer, martyred fighting terrorists in North Waziristan & Balochistan today,” Khan said in a Twitter post.
According to the Inter Services Public Relations, the military’s media wing, six Pakistani soldiers were killed near the Afghan border when “terrorists from across the border” fired on a patrol in the North Wazirstan region.
The attack came after four paramilitary officials patrolling in southwestern Balochistan province were killed on Friday in an ambush by unidentified militants, the military said.
In a Twitter post on Saturday, Pakistan army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa paid his respects to the martyrs and their families and said the military would “ensure defense and security of motherland at the cost of our sweat and blood.”
He said the attacks were the “dying efforts of frustrated inimical forces while Pakistan moves from stability to enduring peace.”
It’s time for the world to facilitate regional peace,” he said.
Pakistani soldiers laid to rest with full military honors
Pakistani soldiers laid to rest with full military honors
- Ten Pakistani soldiers were killed in two separate attacks within hours of each other
- Will ensure defence and security of motherland at the cost of our sweat and blood, says army chief
Pakistan concludes 60-hour joint military exercise featuring 19 states, including Saudi Arabia, US
- Exercise also featured participation from Turkiye, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Jordan and Qatar, says military’s media wing
- Says exercise is designed to enhance professional military skills through exchange of innovative ideas, tactical experiences
ISLAMABAD: A 60-hour-long joint military exercise organized by Pakistan’s army concluded this week at the eastern city of Kharian, featuring participation from 19 countries including Saudi Arabia and the US, the military’s media wing said.
The 9th International Pakistan Army Team Spirit (PATS) Competition is a 60-hour-long patrolling exercise, which the Pakistani military says is designed to enhance professional military skills through the exchange of innovative ideas, tactical experiences and best practices among participating teams.
The exercise was held from Feb. 5-9 in the semi-mountainous terrains of Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province, providing participants a “realistic and challenging operational environment.” Pakistan’s Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir attended the closing ceremony of the exercise on Monday and presented awards to participants.
“Over the years, PATS has evolved into a prestigious and highly competitive military exercise, recognized for promoting professional excellence and mutual learning among participating nations,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, said in a statement.
“The forum continues to strengthen military-to-military cooperation and understanding, while fostering camaraderie and team spirit in a demanding operational setting.”
This year’s exercise featured participants from 19 countries including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Nepal, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Turkiye, USA and Uzbekistan, the ISPR said.
Indonesia, Myanmar and Thailand attended the exercise as observers while 16 domestic teams from the Pakistan Army and Pakistan Navy, along with observers from the Pakistan Air Force also participated in the event.
Munir appreciated participating teams for their “exceptional professionalism, physical and mental endurance, operational competence and high morale” displayed during the exercise, the military’s media wing said.
“He emphasized the importance of such multinational engagements in enhancing collective preparedness and adapting to the evolving character of modern warfare,” the ISPR added.
Pakistan routinely holds joint air, ground and sea exercises with regional countries and traditional allies to foster interoperability to counter threats to global peace.
