Azerbaijan's defence minister extends condolences to Pakistan over deadly terror attack

Azerbaijan’s Minister of Defence, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, has offered condolences to Pakistan following a deadly terrorist attack that killed several members of the Pakistani Armed Forces.

In a message to General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of Pakistan, Hasanov expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life in the Orakzai district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, near the Afghan border, Caliber.Az reports, citing Azerbaijan’s Defence Ministry.

“I am deeply saddened by the news of the deaths of servicemen of the brotherly Pakistan Armed Forces as a result of the terrorist attack,” Hasanov said.

He extended his “heartfelt sympathy” to the families of the victims and prayed for Allah’s mercy upon the deceased.

Eleven Pakistani soldiers, including a Lieutenant Colonel and a Major, were killed during a military operation against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the Orakzai district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, officials said. Nineteen militants were also reported dead.

The army said the late-night operation was launched following intelligence about extremist groups referred to by the government as fitna al-khawarij. A follow-up “sanitisation” effort is underway to clear the area of remaining militants.

The incident marks the latest in a series of deadly clashes in the province bordering Afghanistan. Last month, 17 TTP members were killed in a raid in Karak, while an earlier operation in Dera Ismail Khan left 13 militants dead.

Pakistan has witnessed a resurgence of militant violence in recent years, largely attributed to separatist groups and the Pakistani Taliban, which maintains links with the Afghan Taliban.

By Aghakazim Guliyev