FC officer, nine soldiers martyred in two attacks on security forces

by Tauqeer Abbas
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An officer and nine soldiers were martyred in two separate terrorist attacks on security forces within hours in North Waziristan and Balochistan, military officials said.

Six soldiers were martyred when their patrol came under attack in Gurbaz area of North Waziristan on Saturday, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The military’s media wing said that the terrorists came from Afghanistan.

The attack came after four paramilitary officials, patrolling between the Hushab and Turbat areas of Balochistan, were killed on Friday in an ambush by unidentified militants, the ISPR added.

Saturday’s ambush was claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) while no group has thus far claimed the responsibility for Friday’s attack.

The martyred soldiers from the Gurbaz attack are identified as Havaldar Khalid, Sepoy Naveed, Sepoy Bachal, Sepoy Ali Raza, Sepoy M Babar and Sepoy Ahsan.

The bodies of the martyred were shifted to the main city of the district, Miramshah, and the injured were shifted to a military hospital in DI Khan.

The military’s media wing identified the martyred of the Turbat attack as Captain Aqib, Sepoy Nadir, Sepoy Atif Altaf and Sepoy Hafeezullah of Frontier Corps (FC).

Islamabad has repeatedly asked Kabul and the command of the NATO forces deployed in Afghanistan to control cross-border infiltration into Pakistan.

The two attacks come days after a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Imran Khan which focused on Pakistan’s role in helping to broker a political settlement to end the nearly 18-year-old US war in Afghanistan.

Pakistani forces have conducted a series of operations against militant groups in the tribal areas along the Afghan border over recent years. While officials say the area has largely been pacified, small scale attacks continue to take place.

Condemnations

Prime Minister Imran condemned the attacks and lauded the resolve of the armed forces in the country’s fight against terrorism.

“My condolences and prayers go to the families of the 10 brave soldiers, including an officer, martyred fighting terrorists in North Waziristan and Balochistan today,” he added.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa said the attacks were “dying efforts of frustrated inimical forces while Pakistan moves from stability to enduring peace”.

He added that it was time for the world to facilitate regional peace. The army chief also paid tribute to the sacrifice of the martyrs.

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