GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan police said on Sunday they had foiled a terrorist attack on a police checkpost situated between Diamer and Ghizer districts.

The attempted attack took place on Saturday, the GB police spokesperson said in a statement on Sunday. Around nine terrorists opened fire on a police party at the Sargah Nallah seasonal checkpost, located within the jurisdiction of the Singal police station, adjacent to Ghizer and Diamer districts.

The spokesperson said the police personnel immediately mounted an effective retaliatory response.

However, taking advantage of the difficult mountainous terrain and their higher position, the attackers managed to flee, he added.

“All police personnel remained safe in the firing,” he stated.

He maintained that, in view of the security situation, steps were being taken to relocate the police party to a safer and strategically suitable location, and to provide additional personnel as well as the necessary logistics and equipment.

“The situation continues to be monitored at the district level.”

“The GB police strongly condemns this cowardly terrorist attack and reiterates its resolve to fulfil its responsibilities for maintaining law and order, protecting the lives and property of the public, and combating terrorism; the police remain fully alert,” he said.

The spokesperson urged people to immediately report any suspicious activities or individuals to the police and extend full cooperation to law enforcement agencies.

In April this year, GB police arres­ted 15 suspects during a combing operation against terrorists involved in attacks after at least three police personnel were martyred and five others were wounded in an ambush targeting a police team near Thore Valley in Chilas.

In the same month, the then-caretaker cabinet of Gilgit-Baltistan approved the renaming of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) as the Counter-Terrorism Unit (CTU), and approved the recruitment of 600 new officers in a move to expand law enforcement services.