QUETTA: A terrorist was killed and three soldiers were martyred in an attack on a security checkpoint in the Zarghoon area of Bolan on Saturday, the military’s media wing said.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), a group of terrorists attacked one of the security posts established to “check extortion efforts targeting coal mines in the area”.

Security forces “retaliated readily to the fire raid”, pushing back terrorists, the ISPR said, adding that three soldiers embraced martyrdom and one terrorist was gunned down in the heavy exchange of fire.

The ISPR statement added that a possible hideout of the fleeing terrorists has been identified in nearby mountains and a sanitisation operation has been launched.

“Currently, the operation is progressing well and security forces are maintaining pressure to deny terrorists escape from the area,” the statement claimed.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has condemned the attack and paid tribute to the martyred soldiers.

This was the second major attack targeting se­curity forces in Balo­chistan in eight days.

On May 12, terrorists stormed a Frontier Constabulary (FC) camp in Muslim Bagh town in Qila Saifullah district.

The early-morning attack resulted in an intense gunfight that raged on late into the night during which two soldiers were martyred and three were injured. Two terrorists were also killed.

Earlier in January, 10 soldiers were martyred in a terrorist attack targeting a security post in the Kech district.

Over the past few months, the country’s security situation has worsened, with militant outfits targeting civilians and security forces.

Since peace talks broke down in November 2022, the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan has intensified its attacks, particularly targeting the police in Khyber Pakhtun­khwa and areas bordering Afghanistan.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2023