QUETTA: Four soldiers were martyred and as many terrorists were killed in separate incidents in parts of Balochistan, the military said on Wednesday.

Terrorists using Iranian territory in the border area of Chukab in Panjgur district attacked a convoy on Wednesday, martyring four Pakistani security personnel.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media affairs department of Pakistan military, in a statement said the terrorists used Iranian soil to target a convoy of security forces patrolling the border area.

The Iranian authorities, it said, have been asked to hunt down the terrorists involved in the attack.

The martyrs were identified as Lance Naik Fareedullah Khan, 29, who hailed from Pahar Khel Pakka village; Lance Naik Abdul Razzaq, a 31-year-old resident of Khawha Khel village; and Lance Naik Muhammad Younas Khan, 24, who belonged to Bacha Khan Ahmedzai tehsil. All the three personnel hailed from Lakki Marwat district. The fourth martyr was Sepoy Asad Ali, a 25-year-old resident of Hamrota village in Sudhnoti district.

ISPR says militants ‘using Iranian territory’ attack convoy in Panjgur; hideout cleared in Hoshab

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the killing of security personnel, APP adds.

On his Twitter handle, he said the nation paid homage to the sacrifices of its soldiers martyred in the line of duty.

The prime minister further said: “We expect Iran will ensure that its soil is not used for cross border attacks.”

The other incident took place in the Talsar area of Hoshab in Kech district on Tuesday.

According to the ISPR, an intelligence-based operation was launched to clear a hideout of terrorists, who were involved in attacks on security forces and civilians and planting of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on M-8 in the general area of Talsar.

As a result of continuous intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance of the area, the location of terrorists was identified, it said.

When the establishment of positions to cut the escape routes was under way, four terrorists opened fire on security forces, the ISPR said.

During the ensuing heavy exchange of fire all four terrorists were killed and a cache of arms and ammunition were seized.

According to ISPR, the arms and ammunition recovered from the terrorists’ possession included IEDs, two sniper rifles, two submachine guns, six sniper rifle magazines, 175 sniper rounds, 10 SMG magazines, 197 SMG ammo, one 9mm pistol, one pistol magazine, 12 pistol ammo, four shotgun rounds, etc.

The terrorists killed in the operation were identified by their relatives in the Turbat district hospital as Imam, Razzai, Yahya and Mumtaz.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2023