According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), on Friday, during the ongoing recovery operation in the Ziarat area, on the night between July 14 and 15 (Thursday and Friday) a hideout of terrorists was identified and cleared by the security forces near Khost in Khalifat mountains.
Once encircled, the terrorists opened fire on the closing-in Army troops resulting in Shahadat (martyrdom) of Havildar Khan Muhammad.
During a follow-up clearance operation, the ISPR statement said five terrorists belonging to the proscribed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) were killed in the ensuing heavy exchange of fire.
The sanitization operation, however, will continue in the area to apprehend the remaining perpetrators and recover Mr. Omer Javed.