Over 71 terrorists killed in Balochistan operations over 96 hours: ISPR

Security forces have killed more than 71 terrorists in counter-terrorism operations across Balochistan over the past 96 hours, including 33 during Operation Shaban, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Sunday.

According to the military’s media wing, intelligence agencies identified multiple hideouts of “Indian-sponsored Fitna Al-Khawarij and Fitna Al-Hindustan” in the Shaban area of Quetta district.

As, the military said, “Afghan Taliban regimes’ involvement in terrorism activities in Pakistan, backed and sponsored by India, continues to cause loss of precious lives and threaten peace and stability.”

Security forces launched an operation in Ziarat and surrounding areas on September 21 and cleared multiple hideouts following exchanges of fire, the ISPR said, adding that 33 terrorists had been killed so far and weapons, ammunition and explosives recovered.

The military said the operation was intensified over the past 72 hours, resulting in the killing of 23 more terrorists. It said a vast area had been cleared and the clearance operation was “continuing until complete neutralisation of the threat”.

In separate intelligence-based operations in Balochistan on September 25, security forces killed 11 terrorists in Nushki district and six members of Fitna Al-Hindustan in Mand, according to the military.

ISPR said the latest operations had taken the number of terrorists killed in Operation Shaban and other areas of Balochistan over the past 96 hours to more than 71. The military attributed the activities of the groups to Indian sponsorship and alleged involvement of the Afghan Taliban regime in terrorism in Pakistan.

The military said the counter-terrorism campaign under the “Azm-e-Istehkam” framework would continue until the threat was eliminated.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the security forces for the operations, saying the clearance of terrorist hideouts in Balochistan was a significant achievement.

President Zardari commended the forces for what he described as successful operations against Fitna Al-Khawarij and Fitna Al-Hindustan and said efforts to eliminate foreign-supported terrorism would continue.

“The entire nation stands with its brave security forces in the war against terrorism,“ said the prime minister, in a separate statement.

“Our resolve is to completely eradicate terrorism from Pakistani soil sponsored and assisted from abroad,” the premier added.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also praised the security forces for the operations and their professional capabilities, saying the forces had thwarted the terrorists’ objectives.

Naqvi said operations against Fitna Al-Hindustan and Fitna Al-Khawarij would continue until the groups were eliminated and reiterated that the nation stood with the security forces in the fight against terrorism.