(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) ISLAMABAD, July 4 (KUNA) -- A high profile militant was killed while seven others sustained injuries during a security operation in Pakistanآ's northern Gilgit Baltistan (GB) region on Thursday, said officials.
Interior Minister for GB, Shams Lone in a statement to media said that "terrorist" commander Shah Faisal was killed during an intelligence-based security operation in the Darel district of GB while his accomplice, Zahidullah, was injured.
"The hours-long shootout led to a very tense situation in the district," said the minister. He further said that a young girl, an elderly man, and four GB Scouts were also injured during the exchange of fire, while another militant is still at large and is being pursued.
GB government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq said that security has been put on high alert at the Karakoram Highway and Gilgit city.
After the incident, the GB health department has imposed an emergency in all health facilities across the district. The health authorities directed all doctors and paramedics in Diamer to be on duty while ensuring an adequate supply of necessary medicines and the availability of ambulances.
The operation comes a day after at least three people, including a former Senator Hidayatullah Khan, were killed in a blast in Pakistanآ's northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province bordering Afghanistan.
The federal government last month announced that it would launch a new counter-terrorism operation named "Azam e Istehkam" against the militants. Pakistan has witnessed a rise in terror attacks especially in KPK and Balochistan provinces bordering Afghanistan after the banned outfit Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended the ceasefire agreement with the government last year. (end)
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