Pakistan: Terror attack leaves 2 GB Scouts personnel dead

The Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts are a federal paramilitary force responsible for maintaining the internal security in the Gilgit-Baltistan region.

It also guards the borders of the region.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Diamer Abdul Hameed told Dawn.com that the terrorists attacked the GB Scouts checkpoint situated at the KKH near Chilas of Diamer district on Friday at 12:15 am.

“Unknown armed men fired at the checkpoint from an elevated hilltop position, injuring three scout personnel, two of whom succumbed to their injuries later,” he told the news channel.

“A total of nine people were present at the checkpoint when the attack took place," he said.

The deceased soldiers were identified as Naib Subedar Khush Dad and Havaldar Ashraf.

“The police, led by the deputy inspector general and the district police officer, responded immediately and visited the incident site within the next 15-20 minutes, travelling there from Chilas,” he said.

Following the incident, Elite Force and additional police were dispatched to the area to strengthen the post and chase the attackers, the SSP said.

“The police have started carrying out raids to arrest the culprits and have raided many areas,” Hameed told Dawn News, adding that no organisation had so far claimed the responsibility for the attack.