Two soldiers martyred in South Waziristan operation

–ISPR says six ‘terrorists’ killed in IBO conducted in Spina Mela village

–Six, including three policemen, wounded as IED hits police vehicle in Balochistan’s Naseerabad district 

RAWALPINDI/QUETTA: At least eight people were killed, including two soldiers, and six injured in two separate terror incidents in South Waziristan and Balochistan’s Naseerabad district on Saturday.

According to the military’s media wing, security forces conducted a successful intelligence-based operation (IBO) in village Spina Mela near Ladha, South Waziristan.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said Havaldars Razzaq Khan and Mumtaz Hussain embraced martyrdom in an operation, in which six suspected terrorists were also killed. A high-value target, Nanakar, was among those killed and was responsible for attacks on the local population and tribal Maliks.

The operation was launched on a tip-off regarding presence of terrorists who had entered the area disguised as Temporarily Displaced Persons (TDPs), the ISPR claimed.

However, officials in WANA informed that a group of militants attacked the military check post of security forces with modern and sophisticated weapons. Subsequently, two soldiers were martyred while six militants were killed. But due to lack of access to the area, confirmation of reports from independent sources remains impossible.

“Weapons and ammo recovered along with communication sets through which terrorists were in communication with their handlers across the border in Afghanistan’s Paktia province,” the statement said.

On June 15, three soldiers were martyred in attacks in Shawwal, North Waziristan, while five terrorists killed in an exchange of fire.

“Terrorists from across the Pak Afghan border attempted multiple physical and fire raids on Pakistan Army posts along Pak- Afghan Border in Shawal, North Waziristan Agency,” the ISPR had said.

Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad, a military offensive against the “latent threat of terrorism”, was launched in February 2017.

SIX INJURED IN BALOCHISTAN:

In a separate incident in conflict-ridden Balochistan, six people, including three policemen, were injured when an explosive device went off in Naseerabad district late Saturday afternoon in what police believe to be a targeted attack on a police vehicle.

The vehicle targeted in the Manjo Shori area of Naseerabad district while it was on routine patrol, said reports.

Following the attack, the injured were taken to Dera Murad Jamali’s district headquarters hospital where an emergency was imposed as well. Deputy Superintendent of Police Inayat Bugti was also among the injured.

Police and personnel of other law enforcement agencies have cordoned off the blast site and an investigation into the incident is currently underway.

On Eid day, at least three personnel of the Levies forces were reportedly martyred in a targeted attack on Sariab Road in Quetta.

On June 6, a gun attack on a police vehicle in Quetta’s Arbab Karam Khan Road area had left one policeman dead and another injured.

Unidentified attackers had opened fire on the vehicle while it was on duty outside a mosque and fled the scene.

Balochistan has faced a number of security challenges in recent months, with security personnel in the province often being targeted in roadside explosions and suicide attacks.

On May 18, the provincial capital witnessed a major terrorist bid where five suicide bombers, attempting to storm the FC Madadgar Centre, were intercepted and killed by security forces.

On April 24, six policemen were killed and six others were injured in a suicide attack that targeted a police van on Airport Road in Quetta.

In January, seven people were killed on Quetta’s Zarghoon Road when a suicide bomber rammed into a parked police truck, injuring 16 people.