QUETTA: Three terrorists were killed while a subedar embraced martyrdom and another soldier sustained injuries during an exchange of fire with armed militants near Quetta, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Friday.

Officials said over two dozen armed militants hiding in the Zarghoon mountains area had attacked the check-post in Wali Tangi, where security personnel were deployed to protect a dam.

According to the military’s media affairs wing, militants had attacked a security forces checkpost in the Wali Tangi area late on Thursday evening. In the ensuing encounter, three terrorists were killed. It said Subedar Qaiser Raheem embraced martyrdom while “fighting valiantly in the line of duty”.

“Security forces of Pakistan will continue to thwart the efforts of the enemies of peace and prosperity in the country,” the ISPR statement added.

Officials said the exchange of fire continued for an hour that resulted in the killing of three militants. The attackers escaped after the killing of their armed accomplices.

Interim Interior Minister Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti strongly condemned the attack and said the entire nation saluted the martyr. He paid tribute to Subedar Raheem who sacrificed his life in the line of duty.

Speaker of the National Assembly Raja Pervaiz Ashraf also condemned the attack and paid tribute to the martyred soldier. “The people of Pakistan and all institutions are determined to root out the menace of terrorism,” he said.

Earlier, Balochistan Governor Malik Abdul Wali Khan Kakar, Interim Chief Minister Mir Ali Mardan Domki and Home Minister Zubair Ahmed Jamali strongly condemned the deadly ambush and said such attacks could not lower the morale of security forces and people.

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2023