17 soldiers among 22 killed in Pakistan attacks

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok):  Seventeen Pakistani soldiers and five civilians have lost their lives in fresh attacks in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.

The fatalities resulted from a militant attack in Balochistan’s coastal district of Gwadar, a bomb explosion in KP’s Dera Ismail Khan and a security operation in Lakki Marwat, the military said on Friday.

Separately, at least five civilians were and 24 others injured, including police officials, in a remote-controlled blast in the Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Fourteen troops lost their lives as militants ambushed two vehicles of security forces in Gwadar, the army’s media wing said.

A statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the military vehicles came under attack on their way from Pasni to Ormara.

“Perpetrators of this heinous act will be hunted down and brought to justice,” the statement said. “Security forces are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve.”

In a series of bomb blasts targeting convoys of police and security forces killed five civilians and a soldier and wounded 24 others in Dera Ismail Khan.

The district police chief said five passers-by were killed and 24 others, including civilians and police officials, wounded when a police convoy was targeted in Kulachi sub-district.

Abdul Rauf Babar Qaisrani added police and security forces cordoned off the area and started a search operation. The casualties were evacuated to hospital.

In a second IED explosion targeting a convoy of security forces near Kulachi targeting a convoy of police and security forces left a soldier dead.

Two more soldiers were martyred in intelligence-based operations in Dera Ismail Khan and Lakki Marwat.

In an exchange of fire with militants, during the operations, two more soldiers lost their soldiers. Several militant hideouts were destroyed.

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