Fourteen Pakistan Army personnel were martyred between the night of August 25 and 26 when terrorists attempted a series of heinous acts in Balochistan.
According to a statement by Inter-Services Public Relations, these attacks were driven by inimical and hostile forces aiming to disrupt the region's peace and development by primarily targeting innocent civilians in Musakhel, Kalat, and Lasbela districts. Many innocent lives were lost in these attacks, the statement said.
In Musakhel district, terrorists intercepted a bus in the Rarasham area, maliciously targeting citizens who were working in Balochistan to support their families. Security forces and law enforcement agencies responded swiftly, thwarting the terrorists' evil designs and killing 21 of them in the ensuing clearance operations.
However, during these operations, 14 individuals -- 10 soldiers and four law enforcement personnel -- were martyred.
Sanitization operations are being conducted to ensure that the instigators, perpetrators, facilitators, and abettors of these acts are brought to justice, the ISPR statement said.
Also Read: Balochistan terrorism: Attacks on police and FC; train service suspended
It said that Pakistan's security forces and law enforcement agencies, alongside the nation, remain resolute in their determination to thwart any attempts to sabotage the peace, stability, and progress of Balochistan. The sacrifices of these brave soldiers only strengthen our resolve, it added.
Earlier in the day, territories stopped a passenger bus and killed 23 people in a firing incident in Rarasham area of Musakhel in Balochistan.
Terrorists stopped vehicles on the national highway and gunned down passengers after checking their identity cards. A heavy contingent of Levies and police reached the spot. Balochistan Levies officials said the bodies of the passengers were shifted to hospitals.
In Bela tehsil of Lasbela district, terrorists attacked a Frontier Corps (FC) camp. In a swift retaliatory action by the FC, five terrorists were killed, while the remaining attackers managed to escape.
Security forces have since launched a search operation in the area to apprehend those who fled.
Railway track blown up, bodies found
Simultaneously, another group of terrorists struck in Bolan district, where they blew up a railway bridge in the Dozan area using explosives. The destruction of the bridge caused a complete suspension of train services between Quetta and other parts of the country.
According to the railway administration, the Jafar and Bolan mails could not depart from Quetta, with services expected to resume only after the bridge is repaired.
Separately, the administration claims to have found six bodies from Kolpur Hills. The assistant commissioner concerned claimed the victims appeared to have been gunned down. The bodies were shifted to the Civil Hospital, he said, adding that they had yet to be identified.
Also Read: Terrorists kill 23 Punjabi bus passengers in Balochistan’s Musa Khel
The Kacchi district SSP said two of the bodies were buried under the debris of the destroyed bridge. The bodies of the remaining four were found on the national highway at Kolpur. He also confirmed that the victims had been gunned down.
Levies police station takeover
In the Khad Koocha area of Mastung district, terrorists escalated their violence by attacking and temporarily capturing a Levies police station.
According to sources, the assailants first targeted the station with heavy weaponry before taking control of it. As soon as the authorities received the alert, a heavy contingent of Levies and FC forces was dispatched to the scene.
After several hours of intense firing, the terrorists managed to flee. A clearance operation was launched in the area to secure the region. The Mastung deputy commissioner arrived at the police station, and additional security forces were called in.
The authorities said armed men were reported checking vehicles on the Quetta-Karachi highway, further intensifying the security situation.
Gwadar police checkpost attack
On the other hand, unidentified persons attacked a police station in Jiwani area of Gwadar. The assailants set fire to two vehicles of the provincial and Coastal Highway police forces. They took the policemen hostage and later made off with their weapons.
