RAWALPINDI: Eighteen soldiers were martyred and 12 terrorists were killed in a gunfight between the Frontier Corps and terrorists in the Mangocher area of Kalat district of Balochistan, a military statement said on Saturday.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), terrorists had attempted to establish roadblocks in the general area of Mangocher last night.
At the behest of inimical and hostile forces, the ISPR said, this cowardly act of terrorism was aimed at disrupting the peaceful environment of the province by targeting mainly innocent civilians.
The security forces immediately launched a counter-attack on the militants, leading to dozens of casualties, officials said.
In response, security forces and law enforcement agencies immediately launched an operation and successfully thwarted the evil design of terrorists, and killed 12 terrorists, it added.
“However, during the conduct of operations, eighteen brave sons of [the] soil, having fought gallantly, made the ultimate sacrifice and embraced shahadat.”
Ensuing sanitisation operations are being conducted and the perpetrators, facilitators, and abettors of this heinous and cowardly act, will be brought to justice, the military’s media wing said.
Security forces of Pakistan in step with the nation, the ISPR said, remain determined to thwart attempts at sabotaging peace, stability, and progress of Balochistan and such “sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve”.
