Four Pak soldiers killed in terror attack along Iran border


     Islamabad, Apr 1 (PTI) At least four Pakistan Army soldiers were killed on Saturday in a terror attack along the Pakistan-Iran border in Balochistan’s Kech district, according to the military’s media wing.
     “On April 1, 2023, a group of terrorists operating from the Iranian side attacked a routine border patrol of Pakistani security forces along the Pakistan-Iran Border in Jalgai Sector, district Kech," an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement said.
     The ISPR said that “necessary contact” with the Iranian side was being made for “effective action against terrorists” on their territory and to prevent such incidents in the future.
     No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack which resembled past onslaughts by Baloch nationalists who have been involved in a low-level insurgency.
     Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah condemned the attack and paid tribute to those killed.
     “The sons of the country are laying down their lives to protect their land, the whole nation salutes them, the nation is united in the war against terrorism,” he tweeted, adding that “this scourge will be eradicated”.
     Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who also expressed grief over the incident, said in a statement: “The sons of the soil are laying down their lives for the defence and protection of the country”, and that ridding the country of terrorism was the national agenda.
     In January, four security personnel were killed during “terrorist activity” from across the Pakistan-Iran border in Balochistan’s Panjgur district.
     The incident was condemned by Pakistan’s senior officials and the Foreign Office asked Iran to punish the culprits and ensure a thorough investigation.
     Pakistan shares a long border with Iran and militants, who often sneak across, use it for attacks on the troops.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)