Eighteen soldiers embraced martyrdom during an operation in the Mangocher area of Balochistan’s Kalat district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Saturday.

In a statement, the military’s media wing said last night, terrorists had attempted to establish roadblocks in the general area of Mangocher.

At the behest of inimical and hostile forces, the ISPR said, this cowardly act of terrorism was aimed at disrupting the peaceful environment of the province by targeting mainly innocent civilians.

In response, security forces and law enforcement agencies were immediately mobilised, who successfully thwarted the evil design of terrorists and sent 12 terrorists to hell, ensuring the security and protection of the local populace, it said.

“However, during the conduct of operations, eighteen brave sons of [the] soil, having fought gallantly, made the ultimate sacrifice and embraced shahadat.”

Ensuing sanitisation operations are being conducted and the perpetrators, facilitators, and abettors of this heinous and cowardly act, will be brought to justice, the military’s media wing said.

Security forces of Pakistan in step with the nation, the ISPR said, remain determined to thwart attempts at sabotaging peace, stability, and progress of Balochistan and such “sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve”.

This is a developing story and is being updated with details.