A Pakistan Army officer, Major Sibtain Haider, embraced martyrdom while leading his troops in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) against Indian-sponsored terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dera Ismail Khan district, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The operation was launched in the Daraban area on October 8 following intelligence reports about the presence of terrorists. During a fierce exchange of fire, seven terrorists affiliated with Indian proxies were eliminated.
ISPR confirmed that Major Sibtain Haider, aged 30 and a resident of Quetta, fought bravely while leading from the front and sacrificed his life in the line of duty. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the slain terrorists, who were involved in multiple attacks against civilians and security personnel.
President Asif Ali Zardari paid rich tribute to the martyred officer, stating that Major Sibtain “set a great example by sacrificing his life for the defence of the motherland.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also lauded the courage and professionalism of Pakistan’s armed forces, referring to the terrorists as Fitna al-Khawarij, a term used for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
“The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with our valiant forces. We will continue the fight until terrorism is completely eradicated,” the premier affirmed.
The ISPR added that a sanitisation operation is underway to eliminate any remaining militants in the region.
This operation comes just a day after another IBO in Orakzai district, where two officers — Lieutenant Colonel Junaid Tariq and Major Tayyab Rahat — along with nine soldiers, embraced martyrdom. Nineteen terrorists were killed in that encounter.
The Pakistan Army recently reaffirmed its commitment, during the 272nd Corps Commanders’ Conference, to neutralise all Indian-sponsored terror networks including Fitna Al-Khawarij and Fitna Al-Hindustan, stressing that the nexus between terrorism, crime, and political patronage would no longer be tolerated.
According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Pakistan witnessed a 46% surge in violence during the third quarter of 2025, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan accounting for more than 96% of the total incidents.
