GILGIT: A senior government official in Gilgit-Baltistan confirmed that Pakistani security forces have successfully killed a militant commander responsible for an attack on a passenger bus last December.
Acting on tip-off, security forces killed terrorist commander Shah Faisal, who was the mastermind behind the assault on a bus traveling from Gilgit to Rawalpindi via the Karakoram Highway had left 21 passengers dead and 21 others injured.
The deadly attack occurred in the Hudur area of Chilas district when militants opened fire, causing the bus to collide with a truck that subsequently caught fire.
According to a spokesperson for the GB government, Faizullah Faraq, the operation took place in Darel Valley, Diamer district, known for previous incidents of extremist violence, some linked to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
Faizullah Faraq said that the action was launched following the arrest and interrogation of three facilitators connected to the bus attack.
They identified Commander Shah Faisal as the mastermind, prompting today’s operation to apprehend the culprits.
During the operation, the militants resisted and engaged security forces in gunfire, resulting in the death of Commander Shah Faisal. Four personnel of the security forces were also injured during the operation.
The ISPR, Pakistan’s military media wing, has yet to release an official statement regarding the incident.
