Saleem Rabbani killed in successful army operation

Over the weekend, two Pakistan Army soldiers were martyred in an intelligence-based operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Buner district. Lance Havildar Mudassar Mehmood and Lance Naik Haseeb Javed lost their lives during the operation targeting suspected terrorists. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that a high-value target named Saleem Rabbani was killed in a gun battle, with two other terrorists sustaining injuries. Saleem Rabbani was known for his involvement in terrorist activities, extortion, and target killings.

Weapons, explosives, and a significant amount of ammunition were seized from the militants. Saleem Rabbani, who had a bounty of Rs5 million on his head, was a wanted criminal. Lance Havildar Mudassar, aged 36, and Lance Naik Haseeb, aged 27, displayed bravery and dedication during the operation, with a combined service of 21 years in the army.

The security forces are conducting a sanitisation operation to eliminate any remaining threats in the area. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the security forces for their successful mission and mourned the loss of the martyred soldiers. This operation marks the second successful strike this week, following an earlier operation in South Waziristan.

Pakistan has experienced a surge in terrorist activities, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, after the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan ended its ceasefire with the government. A recent security report revealed a high number of fatalities and injuries resulting from terror attacks and counter-terror operations in the first quarter of 2024, with KP and Balochistan bearing the brunt of the violence.