A terrorist was killed One soldier was martyred & Two injured 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 Pak Army’s media affairs wing said on Sunday.
According to a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations on Sunday morning, 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 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 sanitization operation continued in the area to apprehend the remaining perpetrators.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid a “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.
Today’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 organizations.
Earlier Security Forces launched operations against TTP in Bannu. Security forces launched an operation to free hostages being held by TTP militants at the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) police station in the Bannu district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
Read More : Security Forces Launches operation against TTP in Bannu to rescue CTD Hostage
