SWAT: At least 11 security personnel, including an officer, were martyredinSwat’s tehsil Kabal on Saturday evening when a suicide attacker targettedan Army unit, said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
Those martyred include seven personnelwho were critically injured in theattack. The attack on the Army unit also injured 13 other securitypersonnel.
The Army’s media wing added that the attacker targetted the sports area ofthe armed forces’ unit.
The explosion took place in theShareefabad area of the tehsil. A largecontingent of security personnel secured the area after the attack andstarted an initialinvestigation into the blast.
Government sources said rescue teams reached the area and shifted theinjured to a hospital in Saidu Sharif.
Earlier in December,security forces conducted an intelligence-basedoperation in Swat’s Jahan Abad area and killed two wanted terrorists.
The operation was conducted after intelligence agencies received accurateinformation regarding movement of terrorists, who were crossing over fromAfghanistan and entering Swat valley.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi strongly condemned the suicide attackin Swat.
In a statement on Saturday, he prayed for martyrs and the early recovery ofinjured. He also commiserated with the bereaved families.
He added that the coward enemy cannot fight with Pakistan’s valiantsoldiers and such cowardly acts cannot deter the country’s resolve for theelimination of terrorism.
Prime Minister Abbasi said the war against terrorism will continue till theelimination of the last terrorist from Pakistan.
Swat in northwest Pakistan referred to by some as the ‘Switzerland ofPakistan”, is known for its stunning natural beauty. The valley was brieflycontrolled by the Taliban between 2007 and 2009.
The armed forces have carried a series of military operations against localand foreign terrorists in the scenic Swat valley.
Operation Rah-e-Haq was launched thrice in the valley and Shangla districtin 2007, 2008, and 2009 respectively.
The army advanced toward Mingora, the largest city in the valley after itlaunched the Swat Operation, also known as Operation Rah-e-Rast, in May2009.