Balochistan unrest: Two FC soldiers, six militants killed

Security personnel lost their lives during a gun battle with attackers of Pasni radar system

QUETTA: Two paramilitary soldiers and six militants were killed in separate encounters and search operations across Balochistan on Tuesday.

In the troubled Jiwani area of Gwadar, two Frontier Corps (FC) personnel lost their lives in a gunfight with the attackers of the Pasni radar system. A militant was also killed. The outlawed Baloch Republican Army (BRA) claimed responsibility for the attack.

The FC had launched a search operation in Pasni against the attackers when the deadly clash with militants took place in the Zarenbug area, a spokesman for the FC said.



BRA spokesman Sarbaz Baloch claimed responsibility for the attacks on the radar and paramilitary force in Gwadar. Calling Quetta-based media outlets from an undisclosed location via the satellite phone, he threatened more such attacks in the future.

Separately, four militants were killed by security forces in the Mashky area of Awaran district.

Sources said the militants had tried to ambush a convoy of security forces. The soldiers returned fire and killed the attackers on the spot. No security official was hurt in the attack.

Meanwhile, the FC claimed that it has killed a militant and arrested another in a search operation in the Agbarg area of Ziarat.

According to a statement, paramilitary troops raided a cave in the mountains of Agbarg where suspected militants were hiding. The suspects opened fire on the soldiers. In the ensuing firefight, one militant was killed and another arrested in an injured condition.

“The militants were involved in carrying out an attack on the DPO Sehrani in which three policemen were killed,” the FC spokesman said.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2015.