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14 soldiers martyred in Gwadar ambush, three in DI Khan, Lakki IBOs: ISPR

By Staff Report

RAWALPINDI: As many 14 soldiers of Pakistan Army were martyred after two vehicles of the security forces were ambushed by terrorists in Gwadar district of Balochistan, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Friday.

Similarly, three Army soldiers embraced martyrdom, while two terrorists were killed during a series of intense encounters between security forces and militants in Dera Ismail Khan and Lakki Marwat districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa,, according to a statement by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.

In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), military’s media affairs wing, two vehicles of the security forces were moving from Pasni to Ormara when they were ambushed. It said 14 soldiers embraced martyrdom in the “unfortunate incident”.

“Sanitisation operation is being carried out in the area and perpetrators of this heinous act will be hunted down and brought to justice,” the ISPR said.

“Security forces of Pakistan are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve,” it added.

Dera Ismail Khan, Lakki Marwat IBOs

In a series of intense encounters between security forces and militants in Dera Ismail Khan and Lakki Marwat districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, at least three Army soldiers embraced martyrdom, while two terrorists were killed, according to a statement by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.

The clashes occurred during intelligence-based operations in the region.

In the first operation, which took place in the general area of Rori in DI Khan district, one terrorist was killed, and two others were injured. The slain terrorist, identified as Usama, was a suicide bomber associated with the TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) and had plans to carry out a high-profile attack in the area.

In the second operation conducted in Lakki Marwat district, one terrorist was killed, and several terrorist hideouts were uncovered. However, during the intense exchange of fire, two soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice.

Naik Zafar Iqbal, aged 37 and a resident of District Gujranwala, and Sepoy Haji Jan, aged 30 and a resident of District Ghizar in Gilgit-Baltistan, displayed unwavering courage and embraced martyrdom.

In the third incident, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonated in the general area of Kulachi in DI Khan District, resulting in the martyrdom of Havildar Shahid Iqbal, aged 39 and a resident of District Mirpur Khas.

The ISPR noted that sanitisation operations are ongoing to eliminate any remaining terrorists in the area. The security forces of Pakistan remain determined to eradicate the menace of terrorism, and the sacrifices of these brave soldiers only strengthen their resolve, it maintained.

The ugly incidents occurred hours after a bomb blast targeting police killed five people and injured over 20 others in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dera Ismail Khan.

Condemnations

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar strongly condemned the terrorist attack on the convoy of security forces in Gwadar district.

The Prime Minister paid glowing tribute to the 14 personnel of the security forces who lost their lives in the attack. The Prime Minister prayed for the martyrs and patience for their families.

The Prime Minister said that the evil intentions of the terrorists will never be allowed to succeed. “The brave sons of the soil sacrificed their lives for the safety of the country”, the PM said.

The Prime Minister further said that the entire Pakistani nation, including he, was proud of its martyrs. “Such cowardly attacks by terrorists will never be able to lower the morale of the Pakistani nation and its guardians and the entire nation is standing by its security forces to end this scourge of terrorism.”

Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani condemned the attack and said that “such acts were reprehensible”.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the martyred and injured. Pakistan stands resolute against terrorists,” he said in a post on social media platform X.

Interim Balochistan Chief Minister Ali Mardan Khan Domki also condemned that attack. In a statement, he said that the attack on jawans responsible for protecting the lives and property of the people was “a cowardly act”.

Domki paid tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives and also offered his condolences to their families. He termed terrorist incidents a conspiracy aimed at sabotaging peace in the province, adding that permission would not be allowed to disturb the peace won after countless sacrifices.

Former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a post on X, condemned the cowardice act of ambush on security forces in Gwadar and expressed sorrows and grief over the martyrdom of 14 soldiers.

PPP Chairman Bilawal-Bhutto Zardari said militants had ambushed soldiers in a “cowardly attack”. Paying tribute to the martyred soldiers, Bilawal said that the fight against terrorism would continue until the “last militant is eradicated”.

“What a price our country has paid in this long war against terrorism! So many lives left desolate,” said PPP’s Sherry Rehman. “Heart goes out to the families of the martyrs and the injured. Their sacrifices will be remembered,” she said.

Uptick in terror activities

The country has been witnessing an uptick in terror activities in recent months, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, after the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan ended its ceasefire with the government in November last year.

In July, as many as 12 soldiers of the Pakistan Army embraced martyrdom in separate military operations in the Zhob and Sui areas of Balochistan.

In September, data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) said the number of militant attacks in August was the highest tally for monthly strikes in almost nine years.

There were 99 attacks across the country, the highest number in a single month since November 2014, the report had said.

 

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