An exchange of fire between terrorists and Pakistan army in Balochistan led to the martyrdom of two soldiers on Sunday.

A statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations said that the army received ‘credible’ intelligence reports saying a highly wanted group of terrorists was about to move. The group had been involved in incidents of firing on security forces as well as planting Improvised Explosive Devices in Hoshab, southern Balochistan.

Based on the reports, the army began an operation to cut off the terrorists’ movement in in general area Balor. However, the forces were ambushed.

“While establishment of blocking positions to cut the escape routes was underway, a party of terrorists tried to ambush closing in patrol and opened fire onto security forces,” the statement said.

“As a result of heavy exchange of fire, two brave sons of the nation, Major Saqib Hussain and Naik Baqir Ali embraced Shahadat while another soldier got injured.”

The statement said that the army was conducting a follow up operation to find the terrorists involved in the ambush.

Operations against terrorists have stepped up in recent months after a new layer of terror gripped the country at the beginning of the year. Many of the operations have been based on intelligence reports, leading to elimination of key terrorist leaders and figures.