Fourteen Pakistan Army soldiers were martyred after two vehicles belonging to security forces were ambushed by terrorists in Balochistan’s Gwadar district, the military’s media affairs wing said on Friday.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the vehicles were moving from Pasni to Ormara when they were ambushed. It said 14 soldiers embraced martyrdom in the unfortunate incident.

“Sanitisation operation is being carried out in the area and perpetrators of this heinous act will be hunted down and brought to justice,” the ISPR said.

“Security forces of Pakistan are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve,” it added.

Condemning the attack on security forces, Interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar paid tribute to the martyred soldiers.

He said that the “evil intentions” of militants would not be allowed to succeed, adding that the martyrs had sacrificed their lives for the safety of the country.

“The entire nation, including me, is proud of its martyrs,” he said. Kakar said such cowardly attacks would never be able to deter the resolve of the Pakistani nation and its forces.

Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani condemned the attack and said that “such acts were reprehensible”.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the martyred and injured. Pakistan stands resolute against terrorists,” he said in a post on social media platform X.

Interim Balochistan Chief Minister Ali Mardan Khan Domki also condemned that attack. In a statement, he said that the attack on jawans responsible for protecting the lives and property of the people was “a cowardly act”.

Domki paid tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives and also offered his condolences to their families. He termed terrorist incidents a conspiracy aimed at sabotaging peace in the province, adding that permission would not be allowed to disturb the peace won after countless sacrifices.

PPP Chairman Bilawal-Bhutto Zardari said militants had ambushed soldiers in a “cowardly attack”. Paying tribute to the martyred soldiers, Bilawal said that the fight against terrorism would continue until the “last militant is eradicated”.

“What a price our country has paid in this long war against terrorism! So many lives left desolate,” said PPP’s Sherry Rehman. “Heart goes out to the families of the martyrs and the injured. Their sacrifices will be remembered,” she said.

The development came hours after a bomb blast targeting police killed five people and injured over 20 others in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dera Ismail Khan.

Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in terror activities in recent months, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, after the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan ended its ceasefire with the government in November last year.

In July, as many as 12 soldiers of the Pakistan Army embraced martyrdom in separate military operations in the Zhob and Sui areas of Balochistan.

In September, data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) said the number of militant attacks in August was the highest tally for monthly strikes in almost nine years.

There were 99 attacks across the country, the highest number in a single month since November 2014, the report had said.

Additional input from Abdullah Zehri