In a deadly ambush, unidentified militants attacked a vehicle of Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorist Force (ATF) in the southwestern province of Balochistan, resulting in the deaths of three officials, a senior police official confirmed on Sunday (22 September). The incident occurred late on Saturday (21 September) in the remote district of Zhob, near the border with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The militants targeted the ATF vehicle as it was en route to Dera Ismail Khan after handing over a prisoner in Zhob, according to the Superintendent of Police
One soldier was killed at the ambush site, while two others succumbed to their gunshot wounds while being transported to the provincial headquarters in Quetta. A fourth soldier injured in the attack is currently receiving treatment in Quetta.
The attack occurred along the Zhob-Dera Ismail Khan highway, an area that has seen a rise in militant activity, particularly by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), in recent months. The TTP has intensified its attacks on security forces, especially near the border region.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, expressing sorrow over the loss of life and reaffirming the government’s commitment to fighting terrorism in the region.
Balochistan has long been a hotspot for separatist insurgency. Still, the region has also witnessed an increase in militant activities by groups such as the TTP, making it one of the most volatile areas in Pakistan’s ongoing struggle against extremism.
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