Islamabad, May 20 (HS): Pakistan’s security forces reported the killing of 12 Baloch fighters during encounters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where they also lost a soldier, Farhad Ali Turi, and a lance naik, Sabir. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif honored the fallen personnel and commended the bravery of the armed forces. Encounters resulted in five deaths in Lakki Marwat, two in Bannu, two in North Waziristan’s Mir Ali, and three in Balochistan.

The Inter-Services Public Relations stated soldiers killed a Baloch-linked militant, Younus, in Awaran, and in Turbat, two fighters, including Sabrullah, were also neutralized. State media reports highlighted the incidents while criticizing India. Both the president and the prime minister reaffirmed national unity in support of the armed forces following these developments.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar