11 Soldiers Martyred in Bela Convoy Attack as Security Forces Kill 29 Terrorists: DG ISPR

ISLAMABAD: 11 soldiers of Pakistan Army were killed in terrorist attack on army convoy in the area of Bela, Winder, along the N-25 highway, DG Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said on Wednesday.

DG ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said on Wednesday that 11 soldiers were martyred after an army convoy came under attack in Balochistan’s Bela, Winder, along the N-25 highway, as he provided security updates about the province in recent days.

The DG ISPR said two additional operations were carried out in Kharan and Dalbandin, where security forces killed six and eight terrorists. He said the operations are part of the military’s ongoing response to recent terrorist attacks in Balochistan.

He further said that Pakistan had witnessed three major terrorist incidents over the past four days.

He was addressing a press briefing on Wednesday in which he briefed the local and international media about the ongoing operations against militants in KP and Balochistan.

Lt Gen Chaudhry said, “The first incident occurred on the night between July 4 and 5, when terrorists belonging to Fitna-ul-Khawarij attacked the local population in Hanna Urak”.

The DG ISPR said residents resisted the attack and forced the terrorist to retreat. He said four civilians were martyred and six others injured during the incident. He said that Fitna-ul-Khawarij was an “Indian proxy”.

Fitna-al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The second incident, DG ISPR said, terrorists belonging to Fitna al Khawarij carried out a “multi-directional attack” on a police check post near pumping station no 3 of Mangi Dam in Ziarat district.

He said the water from Mangi Dam supplies Quetta, and the police check post was established to protect the pumping station and the pipeline, with personnel deployed there working day and night to ensure the water supply to the people of Quetta.

“The terrorists of Fitna-ul-Khawarij attacked the checkpoint in a multi-directional manner,” the DG ISPR said.

He paid tribute to the police personnel, saying they stood their ground and fought back against the attackers. He said 15 terrorists, whom he referred to as “Kharjis”, were killed during the battle. He said nine young police personnel were martyred in the intense engagement.