M. Khan/ Tariq Saeed
Gwadar/Peshawar
Twenty security personnel were martyred in two separate attacks in Balochistan’s Gwadar district and the North Waziristan tribal district on Thursday, says a release issued by ISPR.
The terrorists have intensified their activities against the security forces lately particularly in Balochistan and North Waziristan. In the first shocking incident, an encounter took place between security forces and large number of terrorists on Coastal Highway (near Ormara), when a convoy of OGDCL was being escorted from Gwadar to Karachi.
The security personnel lost their lives when terrorists opened fire on them on the highway in Gwadar district. The Forces responded effectively, ensured security of the OGDCL persons and managed their safe exit from the area.
During the clash, substantial losses were incurred to the terrorists but as a result of this encounter, 7 brave soldiers of FC Balochistan and 7 security guards sacrificed their lives and embraced shahadat.
Those who sacrificed thier lives included Subedar Abid Hussain, resident of Layyah, Naik Muhammad Anwar (Sibi), Lance Naik Iftikhar Ahmed of DG Khan, Sepoy Muhammad Naveed, resident of Chakwal, Lance Naik Abdul Latif of Pishin, Sepoy Muhammad Waris from Mianwali, Sepoy Imran Khan, resident of Lakki Marwat, Havaldar (Retd ) Samandar Khan of Lakki Marwat, Muhammad Fawad ullah, resident of Lakki Marwat, Atta ullah r/o DIK, Waris Khan of Tank, Abdul Nafay r/o Kohat, Shakir ullah r/o Kohat, and Abid Hussain, resident of Bannu.
The security forces cordoned off the area and started a search operation, the release said.
In the second incident, six Pakistan Army personnel including a Captain embraced martyrdom in an improvised explosive device attack in the Razmak subdivision of the tribal district on Thursday.
The convoy of security forces was attacked through an improvised explosive device, resulting in the martyrdom of one officer and five soldiers.
The martyred Army personnel include 24-year old Captain Umar Farooq. Other soldiers who laid down their lives in the line of duty were identified as 37-year old Naib-Subedar Riaz Ahmed, Naib-Subedar Shakeel Azad, 44 , Havaldar Younas Khan, 37,
Naik Muhammad Naeem, 37, and Lance Naik Asmat Ullah, 30 years of age.
The Security forces are also reported to have kicked of search and net operation after the assault.
‘Encounters’ between security forces and militants have frequently been taking place in North Waziristan. Security forces have killed several suspected hardcore terrorists in recent clashes.
Prime Minister Imran Khan in a statement condemned the attacks on security forces and sought a report into the incidents.
The premier expressed grief with the families of the martyred personnel of security agencies.
The Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shah Farman, has also condemned terrorists’ attack on the security forces convoy in Razmak and expressed his heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved families.
Last year in April, at least 14 people, including 11 personnel of Navy, Air Force and Coast Guards, were martyred by gunmen after they were picked out with the help of their computerised national identity cards and offloaded from seven buses in the Buzi
Pass area near Ormara.
