As many as 12 army personnel died in the line of duty on Wednesday in two separate attacks in Balochistans Zhob and Sui, the Pakistan Army confirmed. Seven militants involved in the attack have also been killed, media reports have confirmed.This is the highest single-day death toll from terrorist attacks that the Pakistan Army has suffered this year.Three Pakistani soldiers were killed on Wednesday when they came under heavy fire from heavily armed terrorists in the Sui district in Balochistan. Two militants were also killed during the gunfire exchange, according to a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).“During the fire exchange, three brave soldiers, having fought gallantly, embraced martyrdom while two terrorists were sent to hell during the operation,” the press report said.“Security forces are maintaining pressure and clearance operation is underway to apprehend remaining terrorists as well. Security forces remain unwavered to expose or neutralise the enemies of peace in Balochistan and Pakistan,” the statement added.Sui attacks preceded by attacks of Pakistan Army cantonment in ZhobThe Sui attacks followed another deadly attack in Balochistan, where at least nine Pakistani soldiers lost their lives in a terrorist raid of a military cantonment in the Zhob district.Islamist militants tried to storm the cantonment armed with guns, hand grenades, and rockets in the early hours of Wednesday, the Army officials told Reuters.According to a statement by the Pakistan Army, “Initial attempts by the terrorists to sneak into the facility was checked by soldiers on duty.”There were five terrorists equipped with heavy automatic weapons, Zhob Commissioner Saeed Ahmed Umrani told Pakistani news outlet Dawn.The militants then hurled hand grenades into a military mess at the base and then waged a gunfight with the security forces.“In ensuing heavy exchange of fire, the terrorists have been contained into a small area at the boundary,” a statement by the ISPR said.“Security forces also suffered casualties in the gun battle which continued till noon”, Commissioner Umrani said.In the ensuing gun battle, nine soldiers were killed, as were all the five terrorists involved.A civilian also lost her life, and at least five other civilians received injuries after a Quetta-bound passenger bus was caught in the crossfire. Confirming the death of the civilian, Deputy Commissioner Azimullah Kakar said, “The bus which was coming from Dera Ismail Khan was passing through the areas of Zhob cantonment when it was [caught] in the crossfire.” The injured have been taken to the Civil Hospital Quetta for treatment.A statement released by the ISPR confirmed the end of the military operation in Zhob. “Zhob Cantt has been completed, and in total five terrorists have been killed during the operation,” the statement read.“Security forces and the nation remain resilient and determined to thwart all such dastardly attempts of the enemy aimed at destroying the peace of Balochistan and Pakistan.”The Pakistan Army said that a search operation is underway in Zhob town and the surrounding areas to clear the areas of terrorist sympathisers and facilitators.A newly founded terrorist group called the Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan (TJP) took responsibility for the attack, promising to release pictures and videos of the militants involved in the attacks.Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif took to Twitter to offer his condolences to the fallen soldiers.آج ژوب گیریزن پر حملے میں پانچ سیکیورٹی اہلکاروں نے فرض کی ادائیگی میں جام شہادت نوش کیا اور کئی اہلکار زخمی ہوئے۔ پاکستان کا دفاع اور سلامتی ہمارے شہداء کے مقدس خون اور غازیوں کی عظیم قربانیوں کی بدولت ہے۔ دہشت گردی کے خلاف جاری جنگ قوم کے مستقبل کی جنگ ہے۔ پچھلی دہائی میں ہماری…— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 12, 2023In a long message posted in Urdu, Sharif said, “In the past decade, our valiant forces and the nation together eradicated the menace of terrorism and in the future too, they will spare no effort to uproot this monster. The protection of this country is our mission and our responsibility, which is dearer than our own lives. My prayers are with the families of the martyrs. May Allah grant these holy souls a place in His mercy and grant recovery to the injured.”
