Islamabad (Web Desk): At least 13 terrorists were killed and seven soldiers embraced martyrdom in an encounter between the security forces and terrorists in Naushki and Panjgur districts of Balochistan on Wednesday night, the military's media wing said on Thursday.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the terrorists had attempted to attack security forces' camps in Balochistan's Panjgur and Naushki in two separate attacks late on Wednesday evening.
"After successfully repulsing terrorist attacks at Panjgur and Naushki yesterday night, security forces carried out clearance operation to hunt down terrorists hiding in the area," the statement said.
"In Naushki, the security forces shot down five more terrorists, bringing the tally to nine terrorists killed in the area while four soldiers embraced martyrdom in the encounter," the military’s media wing said.
Meanwhile, an operation is still underway in Panjgur for the elimination of terrorists present in the area, where four terrorists have so far been killed and four to five others have been encircled by the security forces.
In Panjgur, three soldiers were martyred and four others got wounded.
The initial investigation revealed the targetted terrorists had links in India and Afghanistan.
“The intelligence agencies have intercepted the communication of the terrorists and their handlers,” the ISPR statement said.
Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan paid tribute to the armed forces for 'repulsing' terrorist attacks in Panjgur and Naushki districts of Balochistan.
In a message on Twitter, the premier said we salute our brave security forces who repulsed terrorist attacks against security forces' camps in Panjgur and Naushki in Balochistan.
He further extended the nation’s support to the armed forces ‘who continue to give great sacrifices to protect us’.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid shared an update on the terror attack.
In a video message on Twitter, he said that said nine terrorists were killed and four soldiers martyred in Naushki, whereas six terrorists died in the Panjgur attack.
"The terrorists were repulsed from both places and the Pakistan Army kept its tradition of defeating terrorism alive. A few are surrounded by the army in Panjgur which the Pakistan Army will defeat. This is a great success that the Pakistan Army has achieved against terrorism,” the minister said.
Sheikh Rashid Ahmad also paid tribute to the security forces and said they were fully capable of fighting against any kind of terrorism.
The incidents are the latest in a string of attacks in Balochistan and come a week after 10 soldiers were martyred in a terrorist attack on a security forces check post in the province's Kech district.
