TEN soldiers were martyred after terrorists attacked a security forces’ check post in Baluchistan’s Kech district.
According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), during intense exchange of fire, ten soldiers embraced martyrdom, one terrorist was killed and several others were injured.
It added that three terrorists had been apprehended in the follow-up clearance operation aimed at hunting down the perpetrators of the incident.
The loss of ten precious lives is a national tragedy that should serve as a stark reminder that the threat of terrorism is far from over.
The nation salutes those who are rendering great sacrifices for the security of the people and the motherland despite various odds and challenges.
The ISPR statement has understandably renewed commitment of the defence forces to eliminate terrorists from Pakistani soil at all costs.
This is not rhetoric as our defence forces and security institutions fought a comprehensive and successful war against the menace of terrorism, evoking acknowledgement of their achievement by the entire world.
However, incidents like the Kech tragedy is an indication that terrorists are regrouping and are gaining strength to attack and confront troops in different parts of the country, especially Baluchistan and the KP.
In view of strategic significance of Balochistan, the province has become a battle-field of conflicting regional and global interests and some local misguided elements are being misused by some foreign powers to advance their own nefarious designs and to undermine peace and stability of Pakistan’s largest province which is destined to achieve heights of progress and development with the implementation of various projects under CPEC and other initiatives by the federal government, defence forces and the provincial government.
As Pakistan’s economic well-being is closely linked to the all-round development of Balochistan, conspiracies are being hatched by enemies of the country to keep the pot boiling in the province.
No doubt, defence forces are making strenuous efforts to foil designs of the enemy but their campaign would succeed only if people of the province extend their fullest cooperation in identifying miscreants and taking them to task.
A greater vigilance at national level is required in view of rising incidents of terror and apprehensions expressed by Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad that terror incidents could increase in the country during the next two months.
There is also need to take up the issue of terrorism in Pakistan with the Taliban Government in Afghanistan as, according to National Security Advisor Moeed Yusuf, Afghan soil was still being used against Pakistan, adding that organized terrorist networks were operating in the neighbouring country.
