RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif on Thursday conferred military awards to Army personnel, for acts of gallantry, in ongoing Operation Zarb-e-Azb in an investiture ceremony held at the army’s general headquarters in Rawalpindi.
In a press release, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that a large number of military officials and relatives of Shuhada and Ghazis attended the ceremony.
As many as 35 officers and soldiers were awarded Tamgha-e-Bisalat, 35 officers were awarded Sitara-i-Imtiaz (military), and 5 officers and soldiers were awarded United Nations (UN) medal. Medals of Shuhada were received by their family members.
The ISPR said that after the ceremony, the COAS interacted with wards of Shahuada and spent time with them.
Pakistan’s armed forces launched a full-fledged Operation Zarb-e-Azb in the northwestern tribal region in June 2014 after the process of peace talks with the militants was suspended.
Earlier in February this year, Pakistan army began last phase of Zarb-e-Azb in Shawal area of North Waziristan and since then, at least 252 terrorists have been killed while 160 others were severely injured. Meanwhile, 8 soldiers of Pakistan Army embraced Shahadat while 39 others were injured.
