Pakistan army officer killed in IED blast during Balochistan operation

A Pakistan Army major was killed in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast during a security operation in Balochistan province, while security forces killed four terrorists in a separate operation, the military said on Monday.According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military's media wing, security forces conducted operations in the Shadi Kaur area of Gwadar and Jattakabad in Kalat district on Sunday following reports of terrorist presence.During an operation in Jattakabad, the forces killed four terrorists and recovered “a large cache of arms and ammunition”, the Army said.In a separate action, security forces carried out clearance operations in the Shadi Kaur area of Pasni in Gwadar district. During the operation, 34-year-old Major Wajahat Waheed was killed in an IED attack while leading the operation.“Sanitisation operations will continue to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area,” the Army said.The military added that security forces and law enforcement agencies remained committed to eliminating foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism in the country.Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the security forces for killing the four terrorists and expressed grief over the death of the officer.“Major Wajahat Waheed sacrificed his life for the protection of our beloved homeland; the nation is proud of its brave son,” the prime minister said.Sharif also extended condolences to the officer's family and prayed for the elevation of his rank.Balochistan has witnessed an increase in terrorist activities in recent years, with security forces continuing operations to contain the violence.A day earlier, security forces killed eight terrorists during operations in the Quetta, Nushki and Khuzdar districts. (With inputs from PTI)You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.