Pakistani Army Officer Killed in IED Blast
Major Wajahat Waheed died while leading a security operation in Gwadar district, while troops killed four suspected militants in a separate operation in Kalat, according to the military.
ISLAMABAD, Oct 19: A Pakistan Army major was killed in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast during a security operation in Balochistan province, the military said on Monday, as security forces intensified operations against suspected militants in the region.
According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, security forces conducted operations on Sunday in the Shadi Kaur area of Gwadar district and Jattakabad in Kalat district following reports of terrorist activity.
In Jattakabad, troops killed four suspected militants and recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition, the statement said.
Separately, security personnel carried out clearance operations in the Shadi Kaur area of Pasni in Gwadar district. During the operation, 34 year old Major Wajahat Waheed was killed when an IED exploded as he led his team, according to the military.
The ISPR said clearance and sanitisation operations would continue to identify and eliminate any other militants operating in the affected areas.
The military reiterated its commitment, alongside law enforcement agencies, to combating what it described as foreign-sponsored terrorism in Pakistan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the security forces following the operations and expressed condolences over the death of the army officer.
Sharif said Major Waheed had laid down his life to protect the country and described him as a brave son of the nation. He also conveyed his sympathies to the officer’s family and prayed for his elevated status.
Balochistan has experienced persistent militant violence in recent years, with security forces conducting frequent operations across several districts. The province’s security situation remains a major concern for Pakistani authorities.
A day before the latest operations, security forces reportedly killed eight suspected militants during separate actions in the Quetta, Nushki and Khuzdar districts.
The latest incidents underline the continuing security challenges confronting the province, where military and law enforcement operations are aimed at containing armed groups and preventing further attacks.
Authorities have said operations will continue in areas where suspected militant activity is reported. The military has not provided further details about the circumstances surrounding the IED explosion or the identities of those killed in the separate Kalat operation.
