Two soldiers lost their lives in a shootout with militants in the Singwan area of Kech district in the restive Balochistan province, the Pakistan Army stated on Thursday.
Singwan is located in southwest Pakistan along its border with Iran.
According to a statement issued by Pakistan Army's media wing ISPR, a group of armed militants attacked a security forces post, with alert troops firing back at them. The exchange of fire resulted in two casualties on the Pakistani side.
"During the intense fire exchange, two brave soldiers, Sepoy Hasnain Ishtiaq, 34, and Sepoy Inayat Ullah, 27, embraced Shahadat (martyrdom) while fighting bravely with the terrorists," the statement said.
The statement noted that a "sanitization operation" was underway at the site of the incident.
Iran's authorities have been informed about the attack and asked to keep vigil at the border so that the militants would not try crossing over to the neighboring country.
"Security Forces, in step with the nation, remain determined to thwart attempts [to sabotage] peace and stability all along the borders in Balochistan," the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated.
Insurgency in Balochistan
For years, the Pakistan Army has been fighting an armed insurgency in Balochistan, where Baloch nationalists are demanding a separate homeland for people of Baloch ethnicity.
The Balochs are an ethnic group that is mainly found in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran. They have been engaged in an armed struggle for independence from Pakistan since 1947.
At the time of 1947 Indian partition, Balochistan reportedly wanted to accede to India but then-Indian Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru turned down the offer made by the then-King of the region Mir Ahmadyar Khan.
The Balochs are an ethnic group that is mainly found in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran. They have been engaged in an armed struggle for independence from Pakistan since 1947.
At the time of 1947 Indian partition, Balochistan reportedly wanted to accede to India but then-Indian Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru turned down the offer made by the then-King of the region Mir Ahmadyar Khan.