Dubai: At least seven soldiers have been killed in two separate terror attacks in Balochistan, according to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR)-- media wing of Pakistan armed forces.
This is the second major incident involving killing of soldiers during the last two weeks. Six soldiers had also been killed in a terrorist attack last week while patrolling along Pak-Iran border in the volatile region of Balochistan
According to the ISPR statement, terrorists targeted a vehicle of the Frontier Corps (FC) in Mach using improvised explosive devices (IEDs), claiming the lives of six Pakistan Army soldiers. The soldiers were identified as Naib Subedar Ihsan Ullah Khan, Naik Zubair Khan, Naik Ijaz Ahmed, Naik Maula Bux, Naik Noor Muhammad and Abdul Jabbar.
In a separate incident at Kech, another soldier, Sipahi Imdad Ali was killed in an exchange of fire with militants.
The ISPR said that the security personnel were returning from patrolling in Buleda — 14 kilometres from the Pakistan-Iran border — to “check possible routes used by terrorists in the mountainous terrain of Makran”. As they were returning, their vehicle was targeted with a remote controlled IED, it added.
Last week, Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Bajwa had also spoken to Iranian Chief of Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Bagheri on the issue of terrorists attacks along Pak-Iran border.
Gen Bajwa also told Gen Bagheri to take action against Baloch separatists, who have allegedly taken up refuge on Iranian soil and attacking Pakistani soldiers.
Gen Bajwa had told the Iranian commander during his telephone call that Pakistan desires “for regional peace and stability on basis of mutual respect, non-interference and equality”.
“Chief of Army Staff General Bajwa expressed concerns on recent terrorist attack on Pak security forces resulting in shahadat [martyrdom) of six security personnel near Pak-Iran border. Both Commanders resolved to enhance security measures on either side of the border,” the ISPR statement said.
“The COAS said that Pakistan has started fencing the border but will require mutual bilateral cooperation to ensure border security and stem smuggling activity, which is also used by terrorists and Narco traffickers for covering their movement,” the statement said.
