GILGIT: Armed men on Sunday martyred a Federal Constabulary soldier at a forest checkpoint along the Kara­koram Highway in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Dia­mer district, police said.

The suspects fled with his service weapon after the attack.

DIG Farrukh Rasheed confirmed the incident and said the motive was not yet known.

“Unknown assailants opened fire at the checkpoint while the deceased was on duty and his colleagues were asleep,” SSP Abdul Hameed said.

He noted that police teams, using drones and night-vision equipment, raided the remote area to find the suspects and arrested some local individuals.

Mr Hameed said the case appeared to be related to terrorism, ruling out personal enmity or a timber smuggling attempt as a motive.

Police are investigating the case and awaiting a post-mortem report, Mr Hameed said.

GB Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan condemned the attack in a statement.

“Firing by terrorists on state personnel is an unacceptable act,” Mr Khan said.

Funeral prayers for the soldier were offered at the Police Lines in Chilas and preparations were under­way to transport the body to his hometown, government spokesman Faizullah Faraq said in a separate statement.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2025