Rawalpindi, 12 May 2019 (ISPR-Dawn)

Security forces have completed the clearance operation at Hotel Pearl Continental (PC) Gwadar during which all three terrorists, who attempted to make forced entry in the hotel, have been killed. Bodies of the terrorists have been held for identification, an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release said Sunday.

During the operation, as many as five individuals embraced martyrdom including four hotel employees and a Pakistan Navy soldier. While, six individuals got injured including two Army Captains, two Pakistan Navy soldiers and two hotel employees.

According to details, the terrorists had attempted to enter the hotel aimed at targeting/taking hostage the guests present in hotel. At the entry, security guard challenged the terrorists denying them entry into main hall and the intruders went to staircase, which was leading to upper floors.

“Terrorists opened fire resulting into martyrdom of security guard Zahoor. Enroute to stairs, terrorists kept firing indiscriminately resulting into martyrdom of three more hotel employees Farhad, Bilawal and Awais while two got injured,” the press release said.

Quick Reaction Forces of Army, Navy and Police immediately reached the site, secured guests and staff present in the hotel and restricted terrorists within corridor of fourth floor.

After ensuring safe evacuation of guests and staff, clearance operation was launched to take on terrorists. Meanwhile, terrorists had made close-circuit television cameras dysfunctional and planted improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on all entry points leading to the 4th floor.

The security forces made special entry points to get into 4th floor, shot down all terrorists and cleared the planted IEDS.

In exchange of fire, Pakistan Navy soldier Abbas Khan embraced Shahadat, while two Army Captains and two Pakistan Navy soldiers got injured.

Director General ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor thanked entire media for responsible reporting and coverage of the operation. “This actually denied terrorists of possible live updates thus facilitated security forces in smooth execution of the operation.”

‘Daily Dawn’ reports that this was the sixth terror attack in Balochistan in one month.

On April 12, 20 people were killed and 48 others injured in the hazarganji Market blast targeting Quetta’s Hazara community. The same day, two people were killed in a blast targetting a Frontier Corp vehicle in Chaman.

Less than a week later, 14 passengers were offloaded from a passenger bus on the Makran Coastal Highway and shot dead by unidentified assailants.

On May 9, a tribal elder and two others were killed in a blast in Qilla Abdullah and on May 10, two coal miners and three FC men were  killed in a blast in Khost.