The funeral prayers of Lieutenant Colonel Junaid Tariq and Major Tayyab Rahat, who were among the 11 brave sons of the soil martyred in Orakzai District during an intelligence-based operation against terrorists belonging to the Indian proxy group Fitna al Khwarij, were offered on Wednesday at Chaklala Garrison in Rawalpindi.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir attended the funeral along with federal ministers, senior civil and military officials, and a large number of citizens.

The nation paid glowing tributes to the martyrs for their supreme sacrifices in defence of the motherland.

During the operation, security forces conducted a successful strike on an India-backed militant group, Fitna al-Khawarij, killing 19 terrorists.

However, in the intense exchange of fire, 11 personnel, including the two officers, embraced martyrdom after fighting bravely.

Lt Col Junaid Tariq, aged 39, and Maj Tayyab Rahat, 33, both hailed from Rawalpindi.

Nine other valiant soldiers also laid down their lives in the line of duty.

The prime minister, while paying tribute to the 11 martyrs of the Orakzai incident, reaffirmed that the Pakistani nation stands resolute and united against the menace of terrorism.

He said the supreme sacrifice of the martyrs is a testament to the nation’s unwavering resolve to defend the motherland at all costs. The martyred will be laid to rest in their native towns with full military honours.