Soldier martyred in Awaran anti-terror operation

A Pakistan Army soldier embraced martyrdom in an exchange of fire with terrorists during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Balochistan’s Awaran district on Sunday, military said.

“On receipt of intelligence information regarding presence of terrorists and their facilitators in Jatt Bazar near Awaran, Balochistan, security forces conducted search /clearance operation,” military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement.

Due to intense exchange of fire with terrorists during the operation, Lance Naik Muhammad Iqbal was injured and immediately evacuated to Karachi, it said.

However, the military’s media wing added, the brave soldier embraced shahadat (martyrdom) due to excessive bleeding.

“Security forces have successfully cleared the entire area of Jatt Bazar.”

In October, a possible terrorist activity was foiled in southern Balochistan when security forces conducted a similar operation, killing a "high-value target" responsible for killing innocent civilians, extortion and attacking security forces.

The ISPR said that the operation was conducted in Ketch district's Buleda area on a terrorist hideout of a proscribed organisation.

Seven soldiers and as many security guards were also martyred in October while fighting off a terrorist attack on a convoy of the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) on the Coastal Highway, near Ormara in Balochistan.