54 terrorists killed, 42 security personnel martyred in ongoing operation in Balochistan: DG ISPR

Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Wednesday said security forces had killed 54 terrorists in three major counterterrorism operations in Balochistan over the past four days, as 42 civilians and security personnel were martyred in separate terrorist attacks.

Addressing a press conference on the province’s security situation, the military spokesperson said the recent attacks reflected a coordinated campaign by terrorist groups backed by hostile forces.

“India is orchestrating them. These attacks are being carried out with the support of hostile forces aligned with India that cannot tolerate Pakistan’s dignity, prosperity and stability,” he said.

Lt Gen Chaudhry said three major terrorist incidents had occurred in Balochistan since July 4.

The first attack took place on the night of July 4-5 in Hanna Urak, where terrorists belonging to what the government refers to as Fitna al-Khawarij attacked local residents. He said the residents resisted the assault and forced the attackers to flee, but four civilians were martyred and six others injured.

The Pakistani government uses the term Fitna al-Khawarij to refer to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its affiliated groups.

The second incident involved a coordinated assault on a police checkpost guarding Pumping Station No. 3 of Mangi Dam in Ziarat district. Nine policemen were martyred while defending the post after killing 15 terrorists, he said.

Lt Gen Chaudhry said Army and Frontier Corps reinforcements were immediately dispatched, but before they arrived, the attackers took the surviving police personnel hostage. Security forces avoided using aerial assets during the operation to prevent harm to the hostages, he added.

He said fighting had continued in the mountains of Ziarat since July 6, during which another 18 policemen were martyred. Security forces have so far killed 11 more terrorists in the ongoing operation, bringing the total number of terrorists killed in the Ziarat operation to 26.

Providing details of the third incident, the DG ISPR said an Army convoy came under attack near Bela-Winder on the N-25 highway by terrorists of the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which the government refers to as Fitna al-Hindustan.

He said 11 soldiers, including one junior commissioned officer (JCO) and 10 soldiers, embraced martyrdom, while 14 BLA terrorists were killed during the ensuing engagement.

Overall, Lt Gen Chaudhry said 54 terrorists had been killed in the three operations, while 42 civilians and security personnel had laid down their lives in the recent wave of attacks and counterterrorism operations.