QUETTA: Five Balo­chis­tan Frontier Corps personnel were martyred after terrorists targeted a patrolling party in Sibi district’s Sangan area, the military’s media affairs wing said on Friday.

During the exchange of fire, the Inter-Services Public Relation (ISPR) said, heavy losses were inflicted on the terrorists in men and material.

Officials said the incident took place late on Thursday evening.

The FC men deployed in the mountainous area of Sangan, some 70km between Sibi and Harnai districts, came under attack while patrolling the area.

The martyred soldiers were identified as Havildar Zafar Ali Khan, Lance Naik Hidayatullah and Sepoy Noorullah belonging to Lakki Marwat, Lance Naik Nasir Abbas, a resident of Bhakkar, and Lance Naik Basheer Ahmed hailing from Nasserabad.

The ISPR said such cowardly acts by inimical elements, backed by hostile intelligence agencies, could not sabotage hard-earned peace and prosperity in Balochistan. Security forces are determined to neutralise their nefarious designs even at the cost of blood and lives.

Balochistan Chief Minis­ter Jam Kamal Khan Alyani condemned the attack.

The chief minister said that such attacks could not deter the government and security forces from taking action against militants in Balochistan.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2021