One soldier, two militants killed during gunbattle in southwestern Pakistan— military 

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistan Army soldier and two “terrorists” were killed in the southwestern Balochistan province on Wednesday after militants attacked a security checkpost in the area, the army’s media wing said. 

The gunbattle took place during the wee hours of Wednesday when “a group of terrorists” attacked a Frontier Corps checkpost in Zhob district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. 

It said the militants’ attempt to infiltrate the FC camp was thwarted by security forces, adding that a suicide bomber and a high-value militant named Umar were killed during the exchange of fire. Umar was involved in attacks on security forces and civilians, including a recent assault on the convoy of the deputy commissioner of Sherani district, the army said. 

“However, during intense exchange of fire, Havildar Jamsher Khan (age: 39 years; resident of: Dera Bugti District), having fought gallantly, paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced Shahadat,” the army’s media wing said. 

Security forces have launched a sanitization operation to “neutralize any other terrorist” present in the area, the ISPR said. 

“Security forces of Pakistan, in step with the nation, remain determined to thwart attempts at sabotaging peace, stability and progress of Balochistan, and such sacrifices of our brave men further strengthen our resolve,” it said. 

Balochistan, which shares a porous border with Iran and Afghanistan, has witnessed a decades-long insurgency launched by ethnic Baloch separatists who have accused successive governments of unfairly exploiting the mineral-rich province of its resources, a claim denied by the state. 

Separatist militants carried out a series of coordinated attacks in Balochistan in August, mostly claimed by the Balochistan Liberation Army, that killed more than 50 people and which Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other leaders had said sought to harm Chinese-funded investment and development projects in the province. 

Separately, the ISPR said security forces killed two militants in a security operation in the northwestern district of Mir Ali on Wednesday. 

It said weapons, ammunition and explosives were recovered from the slain militants, who remained actively involved in numerous “terrorist activities” against security forces and the target killing of civilians.