Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday paid tribute to security forces for eliminating 19 terrorists of the India-backed Fitna Al Khawarij group in an operation in the Orakzai district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The prime minister, in a statement, expressed sorrow over the martyrdom of Lt. Col. Junaid Arif and Major Tayyab Rahat, along with other brave soldiers of the Pakistan Army, during the security operation.

He prayed for peace for the departed souls and strength for their families to bear the loss.

“The sacrifices of the brave soldiers will never go in vain. We will thwart the nefarious designs of India-backed terrorists. Those attempting to harm Pakistan’s integrity will not succeed,” the prime minister said, reiterating the government’s resolve to purge the country of terrorism.