In the early hours of Wednesday, a security post in southwest Pakistan was attacked by a group of five militants, resulting in a fierce shootout. According to officials and the military, the exchange of gunfire claimed the lives of nine soldiers, five attackers, and an unfortunate female passerby. The newly established militant organization, Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack without disclosing any further details.
Following the incident, Pakistan’s military released a statement, describing the event as a “dastardly attack” launched by a group of terrorists in the garrison district of Zhob, located in the southwestern Baluchistan province. The statement highlighted that the initial attempt of the terrorists to infiltrate the facility was thwarted by the vigilant soldiers on duty. As a result of the shootout, three militants and four soldiers lost their lives, while five troops sustained critical injuries.
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In a subsequent search operation, the security forces were able to eliminate two more attackers who had managed to escape. According to Azam Kakar, a senior government official, the militants were heavily armed with assault rifles and had apparently intended to trespass into a compound that houses military offices and troops’ residences. Tragically, a civilian woman was caught in the crossfire and lost her life.
The gas-rich Baluchistan province, situated on the border of Afghanistan and Iran, has been plagued by a long-standing insurgency led by Baluch nationalists for over two decades. Initially driven by the pursuit of a fair share of the province’s resources, the Baluch nationalists subsequently shifted their goal towards independence, fueling the ongoing insurgency. Additionally, Pakistani Taliban and other militant factions maintain a significant presence in the region.
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