Pakistan army loses six soldiers during Balochistan quake relief operations

Pakistan army said Friday that miscreants have killed six soldiers and injured six more since they launched relief operations in worst affected areas by a powerful earthquake on September 24.

The earthquake, measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale, struck parts of Balochistan province and killed over 350 people and affected nearly three hundred thousands people.

Another major earthquake of 7.2-magnitude caused more casualties and damages when it struck the area on September 28.

The army spokesman, Major General, Asim Bajwah, says that 2000 troops have been sent to the affected areas for rescue and relief operations.

“The security forces will continue relief work in earthquake affected areas despite security hazards and unabated attacks by miscreants,” the army spokesman said in a statement.

He said even today miscreants fired on Army troops twice, once early morning and then later in the afternoon in Kech District in Balochistan.

The Director General Inter-Services Public Relations said miscreants carried out five attacks on troops engaged in relief activities in the worst affected Mashkeh area on Thursday.

He said that during last one week miscreants have targeted troops, security forces convoys and even helicopters busy in relief works several times.

“Six security forces personnel have embraced martyrdom in these attacks and six others sustained injuries,” the army spokesman said.

Condemning these attacks, Asim Bajwah reiterated that security forces will continue relief work in affected areas irrespective of any security hazards and all efforts will be utilized to provide relief to our brethren in distress.

Militants fired rockets on a helicopter carrying relief goods to Mashkai on September 27.

The helicopter of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Major General Muhammad Saeed Aleem was also targeted with rockets on September 26, while it was on its way to Mashkai for earthquake relief work. Major General Aleem remained unhurt in the attack.

Giving details of relief work, he said over 2000 troops, 14 helicopters and 2 C-130 aircraft of Pakistan Air Force are participating in relief work in Awaran district, the worst affected. 

The army also established collection points/ camps in the main cities at Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Quetta where relief items are being collected and transported to affected areas of Balochistan, he said.