Terrorist killed, soldier martyred in Zhob gun battle; Operation launched to deny militants use of suspected routes
An Improvised explosive device (IED) exploded on Sunday while the Army was conducting an intelligence-based clearance operation in Kahan area of Balochistan resulting in the martyrdom of five army men including a Captain and four sepoys.
Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR), in its press release, stated “Captain Fahad along with four other brave sons of soil Lance Naik Imtiaz, Sepoy Asghar, Sepoy Mehran and Sepoy Shamoon have embraced Shahadat, laying their lives in defence of the motherland against an externally perpetrated threat of terrorism”.
“The operation was underway in Kahan area of Balochistan since 24 Dec 2022”, the statement added.
Such cowardly acts by inimical elements cannot sabotage the hard earned peace and prosperity in Balochistan.
Security Forces remain determined to challenge their nefarious designs, even at the cost of blood and lives.
The sanitization Operation continues in the area to apprehend perpetrators.
Meanwhile A terrorist was killed and a soldier martyred during an exchange of fire between militants and security forces in an intelligence-based operation in the Sambaza area of Balochistan’s Zhob district, the military’s media affairs wing said on Sunday.
According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations on Sunday, the operation, launched on the basis of “credible information”, was continuing for the last 96 hours.
The objective was to “deny terrorists the use of few suspected routes to move across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border to sneak into KP (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) along the interprovincial boundary and target citizens and security forces”, the ISPR added.
As a result of the continuous surveillance and sanitation of the area, a group of terrorists was intercepted in the early hours of Sunday, the ISPR said, adding that “during the establishment of blocking positions to deny the terrorists escape routes, the militants opened fire on the security forces”.
In the ensuing exchange of fire, a terrorist was killed while a soldier, Sepoy Haq Nawaz, was martyred. Two soldiers sustained were injured in the gunfight, the ISPR statement said.
It added that the terrorists were supported by their facilitators from across the border as well through firing and that the sanitisation operation continued in the area to apprehend the remaining perpetrators.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid “rich tribute” to the sepoy who was martyred in the gun battle.
He commended the security forces for effective action against terrorists. “The brave sons of the nation are crushing the ambitions of the terrorists,” PM Shehbaz said. “The nation salutes its martyrs.”
The premier condoled with the martyred sepoy’s family. He also prayed for the early recovery of those injured.
Subday’s incident was reported as Pakistan continues to face the growing threat of terrorism, including incidents involving elements and groups said to be operating from Afghanistan since the militant Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan called off its ceasefire with the government in late November.
In light of the increase in terror incidents, Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo presided over a high-level meeting on Saturday to review the law and order situation in the province.
It was decided during the meeting that strong measures would be taken to curb terrorism and security agencies were directed to keep a vigilant eye on the activities of the banned organisations.
