Soldier martyred in exchange of fire with terrorists in Zhob

ISPR says sanitisation operation continues in the area to apprehend remaining perpetrators

ZHOB:

A Pakistan Army soldier was martyred and two others were injured on early Sunday during an exchange of fire with terrorists in Balochistan’s Zhob, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated.

According to the military’s media wing, "based on credible intelligence, an operation was launched in Sambaza area of Zhob, to stop terrorists from using few suspected routes to move across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and to sneak into Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), along the interprovincial boundary and target citizens and security forces."

As a result of continuous surveillance and sanitisation of the area, a group of terrorists was intercepted in the early hours today, the ISPR added.

The press statement furthered that during "the establishment of blocking positions to deny them escape routes, terrorists opened fire onto the security forces".

Read Sanaullah concedes terror rise ‘alarming'

The heavy exchange of fire between the security forces and the militants resulted in the killing of one terrorist, while Sepoy Haq Nawaz embraced martyrdom.

"The terrorists were supported by their facilitators from across the border as well during the exchange of fire," the ISPR added.

The military’s media wing said the sanitisation operation continues in the area to apprehend the remaining perpetrators.

Earlier this week, three people including a Pakistan Army solider were martyred when a suicide attacker struck a security forces vehicle in North Waziristan’s Miranshah area.

According to police officials, the attacker rammed a rickshaw into the vehicle and blew himself up.

Security officials had earlier confirmed that civilians and security personnel were among the casualties.

The injured were shifted to DHQ Miranshah Hospital and the blast site was cordoned off by security officials, and an investigation was initiated.