ISLAMABAD: A Pakistan Army captain, along with a soldier and a civilian, was martyred during a snow clearance operation in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, a military statement said on Saturday.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, said that the snow clearance operation was carried out, using heavy machinery, to open Burzil Pass to facilitate the operational movement of army troops in the area on the night between January 2 and 3.
Captain Asmad, 28, was leading the operation, it said. “At around 2am on January 3, 2026, while subject operation was ongoing, a snow slide triggered, resultantly Captain Asmad, along with two soldiers and a civilian machine operator (PWD) got entrapped,” said the ISPR.
After intensive efforts, all four individuals were rescued from the snow; however, the condition of Captain Asmad, Sepoy Rizwan, 32, and machine operator Essa deteriorated, and all three individuals embraced martyrdom.
“These individuals rendered ultimate sacrifice by leading a challenging operation, in extreme weather conditions, to facilitate operational movement of forces,” ISPR said.
Their sacrifice and devotion to duty is testimony to the fact that all ranks of Pakistan’s Armed forces are determined to defend the motherland and will not hesitate to lay down their lives in the line of duty and devotion to cause, the ISPR added.
Burzil Pass is located 178 km from Gilgit at a height of 13,808 feet above sea level, which is covered by snow from October to April. It remains one of the most strategically significant yet weather-prone routes in the north, particularly during the peak winter months.
