A Pakistan Army captain, a soldier, and a civilian machine operator were martyred on Saturday during a snow-clearing operation at Burzil Pass, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed.
The military’s media wing said the operation, led by Captain Asmad Gulfam, 28, a resident of Lahore, began on the night of January 2 and continued into the early hours of January 3, 2026, to facilitate the movement of troops in the strategically important region. Heavy machinery was being used to clear snow from the pass when tragedy struck.
“At around 2 am on January 3, while the operation was ongoing, a snow slide triggered, entangling Captain Asmad along with two soldiers and a civilian machine operator,” the ISPR statement read. Intensive rescue efforts saved four individuals trapped in the snow, but the condition of Captain Asmad, Sepoy Rizwan, 32, from Attock, and machine operator Essa, a resident of Astore, deteriorated, leading to their martyrdom.
“These individuals rendered the ultimate sacrifice by leading a challenging operation, in extreme weather conditions, to facilitate operational movement of forces,” the ISPR said. It added that their courage and devotion to duty “testify that all ranks of the Pakistan Armed Forces are determined to defend the motherland and will not hesitate to lay down their lives in the line of duty.”
The incident follows last month’s accident in Nawabshah, where two army personnel were seriously injured when a speeding oil tanker collided with their vehicle on the National Highway near Qazi Ahmed town. Both incidents highlight the risks faced by Pakistan Armed Forces personnel, not only in combat but also in operational and humanitarian missions across challenging terrains.