3 Pakistani security personnel killed in terror attack

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan

At least three security personnel including an army officer were killed and three others wounded in a terrorist attack in the restive southwestern Balochistan province on Monday, officials said.

"A Frontier Corps (FC) convoy was on routine patrolling when some unknown gunmen attacked the forces near the Murghab area of Panjgur," a local district administration officer told Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity, as he was not authorized to speak to the media.

The gunmen disappeared after the attack while the injured were shifted to local hospitals, the officer added.

Security forces cordoned off the area and lunched a search operation to apprehend the culprits behind the attack.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi strongly condemned the attack. In a statement, he expressed grief over the loss of precious lives of FC officers and directed authorities to provide the best medical assistance to the injured.

No militant group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, but the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other groups normally claim responsibility for attacks on security forces in the area.

The Balochistan province has witnessed dozens of terrorist attacks in recent months on security personnel and civilians in roadside explosions and gun attacks.