A Balochistan Frontier Corps soldier was martyred while four terrorists were killed as security forces thwarted an attack on a naval base in Turbat last night, the military’s media affairs wing said. In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that terrorists attempted to attack PNS Siddique in Turbat last night. It said that the attempt was foiled due to the “swift and effective response by the troops ensuring the safety and security of personnel and assets”. “Security forces in the vicinity were immediately mobilised to support the naval troops. Synergetic and effective response by the armed forces enabled killing of all four terrorists in ensuing joint clearance operation,” it said. The ISPR said that during the intense fire exchange 24-year-old Sepoy Noman Fareed of the Balochistan Frontier Corps embraced martyrdom. Makran Commissioner Saeed Ahmed Umrani had earlier told Dawn that heavy exchange of fire and explosions were reported from the vicinity of Turbat airport on Monday night. “The armed men attacked from three sides of the airport boundary, but security forces responded immediately and foiled their attempt to infiltrate the premises,” he said over the phone from Turbat. It should be mentioned that PNS Siddique is among the biggest naval air stations in the country.

Locals said that over a dozen blasts were heard in Turbat town, while the firing, which began around 10pm, continued late into the night. The banned Balochistan Liberation Army claimed that its Majeed Brigade was behind the attack. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended security forces for foiling the terrorist attack. According to state broadcaster Radio Pakistan, the premier acknowledged that the militants were neutralised due to the timely and effective action of security forces, “preventing a potentially significant loss”. He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to eradicating the menace of terrorism. PM Shehbaz emphasised that the entire nation firmly stood behind the country’s courageous security forces. Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in terror activities in the past year, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan after the banned militant Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022. The Turbat incident comes days after security forces foiled a militant attack on the Gwadar Port Authority Complex. According to the ISPR, a group of eight terrorists attempted to enter the complex but were successfully thwarted by security forces. Two soldiers were martyred while eight terrorists were killed.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan