Staff Reporter
Rawalpindi
Seven soldiers were martyred in a gun attack at a Frontier Corps Balochistan post in Harnai district, the military’s media wing said on Sunday.
The “terrorist fire raid” targeted an FC post located in Shahrag area of Harnai late on Saturday.
“During [an] intense exchange of fire, seven brave soldiers embraced shahadat while repulsing raiding terrorists,” an Inter-Services Public Relations statement said.
It said the area had been cordoned off and escape routes blocked to apprehend the fleeing miscreants and a large scale search and clearance operation was in progress in the area.
“Such cowardly acts by inimical elements backed by anti-state forces will not be allowed to sabotage hard-earned peace and prosperity in Balochistan,” the ISPR said, adding that security forces were determined to “thwart their nefarious designs at all costs”.
In a tweet, Prime Minister Imran Khan said he was “saddened to hear of” the soldiers’ martyrdom in the attack.
“My heartfelt condolences & prayers go to their families. Our nation stands with our courageous soldiers who face attacks from Indian backed terrorists,” he wrote.
The martyred personnel were identified as Naib Subedar Gulzar, resident of Mianwali; Sepoy Faisal, resident of Hafizabad; Sepoy Abdul Wakeel, resident of Pishin; Sepoy Sher Zaman, resident of Kohat; Sepoy Jamal, resident of Dera Bugti; Abdul Rauf, resident of Dera Ghazi Khan; and Faqeer Muhammad, resident of Muzaffargarh.
Federal Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed also condemned the attack and said that all the soldiers bravely fought against terrorists.
“Terrorists cannot dampen the spirits of our brave armed forces through their cowardly acts,” Sheikh Rasheed said. “We won’t let the sacrifices of our soldiers go to waste; we will destroy the terrorists.”
