ISLAMABAD: (DNA) – An army major was martyred on Wednesday in an exchange of fire during a search operation at a terrorist hideout in Kulachi, Dera Ismail Khan, Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Major General Asif Ghafoor tweeted. The martyred 28-year-old army general belonged to Khushab, Punjab, and has left behind a widow and an infant.

The deceased’s funeral prayer was held at Dera Ismail Khan, and was attended by Chief of Army Staff General (COAS) Qamar Javed Bajwa and other high-ranking officials, including Peshawar Corps Commander Lieutenant General Nazir Butt.

In his tweet, the ISPR chief said, “We have a sacred duty at hand of cleansing & defending our motherland; WE SHALL DO IT”.The martyred official is the fourth officer to be killed in the line of duty in the past three months.