Peshawar, July 3: At least two Pakistan Army soldiers, including a Major rank officer, were killed when militants opened fire on security forces in the restive Balochistan province.
The encounter took place in the Balor region of the province on Sunday when the security forces received credible intelligence on the movement of a terrorist group, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistani military, said in a statement.
The terrorists were linked with many firing incidents on security forces and civilians besides planting Improvised Explosive Devices in the Hoshab area, the statement said.
A Major rank officer and a junior officer were killed while another soldier was injured in the incident, the statement said.
“Security Forces, in step with the nation, remain determined to thwart such attempts at sabotaging peace, stability and progress of Balochistan,” the statement said.
It said a follow-up operation to nab the perpetrators of the attack was on in the region.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Sunday’s attack, but Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and small separatist groups have been found to be involved in such incidents in the past.
Small separatist groups in the resource-rich Balochistan have waged a low-level insurgency for more than two decades.
Baloch nationalists initially wanted a bigger share of the provincial resources, but later their insurgency morphed into a fight for independence.
Three policemen and a soldier were killed on Saturday in militant attacks in Balochistan where terrorists from the banned outfit have a strong presence. (PTI)
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