14 soldiers martyred in terrorist ambush in Balochistan

RAWALPINDI: Fourteen soldiers were martyred in a terrorist attack in Balochistan on Friday.

Two vehicles of security forces moving from Pasni to Ormara in Gwadar district were ambushed by terrorists, resulting in Shahadat of 14 soldiers.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Friday that a sanitisation operation was being carried out in the area and perpetrators of the heinous act would be hunted down and brought to justice.

The statement said security forces of Pakistan were determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country and “such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve”.

Separately, two terrorists were eliminated and two soldiers and one police Havildar were martyred in three different anti-terrorist operations on Friday. According to the ISPR release, an intelligence-based operation was conducted in general area Rori, Dera Ismail Khan district, and one terrorist was sent to hell, while two terrorists were injured. The killed terrorist was identified as Usama, TTP’s suicide bomber, who was planning to carry out a high-profile incident in the area.

In the second operation, conducted in Lakki Marwat district, one terrorist was sent to hell and various terrorist hideouts were busted. However, during an intense exchange of fire, two soldiers – Naik Zafar Iqbal (37), resident of district Gujranwala, and Sepoy Haji Jan (30), resident of district Ghizar, Gilgit Baltistan – embraced Shahadat after fighting gallantly.

In another incident, an improvised explosive device exploded in general area Kulachi, Dera Ismail Khan district. As a result, Havildar Shahid Iqbal (39), resident of district Mirpurkhas, embraced Shahadat.