DG ISPR Says 54 Militants Killed, 42 Security Personnel Martyred in Three Major Terror Incidents in Balochistan
Islamabad: Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, said that three major terrorist incidents occurred in Balochistan over the past four days, during which security forces and law enforcement agencies killed 54 militants while 42 security personnel lost their lives in the line of duty.
Addressing a media briefing on the security situation in Balochistan, the DG ISPR said militants targeted innocent civilians, but the people of Balochistan, police, and security forces responded with courage.
He said the first incident took place in Hanna Urak, where militants described by the military as belonging to “Fitna al-Khawarij” attacked civilians. According to him, local residents resisted the attackers and forced them to retreat. Four civilians were killed and six others injured in the attack.
The second incident occurred on July 6 at a police checkpoint near the Mangi Dam pumping station. Lieutenant General Chaudhry said police personnel put up strong resistance and killed 15 militants before reinforcements arrived. However, the attackers managed to take several police officers hostage.
He stated that all the abducted police personnel belonged to Balochistan. Security forces launched a rescue operation in the mountainous areas of Ziarat while attempting to protect the hostages. According to the military, the militants killed 18 captive police personnel after finding themselves surrounded. He added that 11 militants were confirmed killed during the operation, while the actual number could be higher.
The DG ISPR said a total of 27 police personnel were martyred in the Mangi checkpoint attack, while security forces have so far killed 26 militants linked to the incident.
The third incident took place in Bela, where an army convoy came under attack by militants identified by the military as members of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). Fourteen militants were killed in the ensuing operation, while one Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and ten soldiers were martyred. He added that separate operations in Kharan and Dalbandin resulted in the killing of six and eight militants, respectively.
Summarizing the recent operations, Lieutenant General Chaudhry said security forces had eliminated a total of 54 militants over the past four days, while operations against militants and their facilitators continue.
During the briefing, the DG ISPR alleged that India and anti-Pakistan elements were behind the recent wave of terrorism. He also claimed that Afghan territory under the Taliban administration was being used to facilitate attacks against Pakistan and said several militants killed in recent operations were Afghan nationals.
He further alleged that three of the four attackers involved in a recent terrorist attack in Karachi were Afghan citizens and accused the Afghan Taliban of providing support to militant groups.
The military spokesperson said Pakistan would continue to pursue militants and their facilitators at every level and reiterated that undocumented Afghan nationals would be deported. He concluded by stating that Pakistan’s armed forces, law enforcement agencies, and the people remain united in the fight against terrorism and vowed that the country would prevail against militant threats.
