Two Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Scouts personnel were martyred and another injured in a late-night attack on a security post along the Karakoram Highway (KKH) in Diamer district, police confirmed on Friday.
The paramilitary force, responsible for border protection and internal security in GB, came under heavy fire around 12:15 a.m. near Chilas. Officials said the attackers used higher ground to target the checkpoint.
Attackers Strike From Hilltop Position
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Diamer Abdul Hameed said nine GB Scouts were present at the checkpoint when gunmen opened fire.
“Three personnel sustained gunshot injuries, and two later embraced martyrdom,” he said.
The fallen soldiers were identified as Naib Subedar Khush Dad and Havaldar Ashraf. Lance Naik Sajid Ali, who was wounded in the attack, is recovering at Chilas’ Regional Headquarters Hospital.
Evidence Suggests Coordinated Assault
Police teams collected two grenades and ten spent bullet casings from the attackers’ firing position. Seventeen bullet impacts were recorded on the post’s structure, underscoring the intensity of the assault.
Senior officers reached the site within minutes, while Elite Force units and additional police have been deployed to secure the highway and track down the assailants. No group has claimed responsibility so far, SSP Hameed confirmed.
Security Concerns Heighten in Diamer
The incident follows a deadly ambush in December 2023 in the same district, where gunmen attacked an Islamabad-bound bus, leaving ten passengers dead and over 20 injured. Authorities established the now-targeted checkpoint soon after that attack to strengthen highway security.
GB Interior Minister Shamsul Haq Lone condemned the assault, calling it an attempt to destabilize a strategic region.
“There was no prior intelligence of this incident, but security forces are pursuing the attackers and will bring them to justice,” he said.
GB Government Vows Strong Response
Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan has ordered an aggressive search operation, while government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq denounced the attack as “cowardly.”
The Karakoram Highway—Pakistan’s vital trade and travel artery connecting to China—remains a key focus for security forces. The Diamer district, with its rugged terrain, continues to pose challenges for counterterror operations despite recent crackdowns.
