Balochistan attacks: 38 security men martyred, 54 terrorists neutralised: ISPR

ISLAMABAD: Balochistan witnessed three major terrorist attacks in four days, followed by security operations in Ziarat, Kharan and Dalbandin, in which 42 civilians and security personnel embraced martyrdom and 54 terrorists were killed since July 5, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said on Wednesday.

Addressing a press briefing in Rawalpindi, the DG ISPR said the martyrs included four civilians, 27 policemen and 11 army personnel, while the confirmed number of terrorists killed had reached 54.

He said the attacks took place in Hanna Urak near Quetta, Ziarat, and Bela-Winder, adding that engagements were still continuing at multiple locations.

“Right now, the situation is that the engagements are going on at multiple places. The army, FC, law enforcement agencies, security forces and intelligence agencies are taking them on, both on the ground and in the air,” he said.

“All of them will be brought to their logical end, the conclusion that they deserve,” the DG ISPR added.

Giving details of the first incident, Lt Gen Chaudhry said terrorists belonging to Fitna al Khawarij attacked the local population in Hanna Urak on the outskirts of Quetta on the night between July 4 and July 5.

He said the local residents resisted the attack and forced the terrorists to flee. During the exchange, four civilians embraced martyrdom and six others were injured.

The government uses the term Fitna al Khawarij for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and its affiliates.

Referring to the second incident, the DG ISPR said Fitna al Khawarij terrorists launched a multi-directional attack on a police checkpost in Ziarat guarding Pumping Station No. 3 of Mangi Dam.

He said nine policemen, including two station house officers, embraced martyrdom in the initial attack, while 15 terrorists were killed at the checkpost.

Lt Gen Chaudhry said reinforcements from the army and Frontier Corps were immediately dispatched to the area, but before they could arrive, the terrorists took the remaining police officials hostage and moved into nearby mountains.

He said security forces exercised caution during the operation to avoid collateral damage, adding that aerial assets were not used because police personnel had been taken hostage.

The DG ISPR said 18 more policemen later embraced martyrdom during the ongoing engagement in the mountains of Ziarat. He added that 11 more terrorists had been killed so far during the clearance operation.

Providing a breakdown, he said nine policemen were martyred in the initial checkpost attack and another 18 during the follow-up engagement, taking the total number of police martyrs in the Ziarat incident to 27.

He said 15 terrorists were killed at the checkpost and 11 more were confirmed killed later, bringing the total number of terrorists killed in the Ziarat attack and subsequent operation to 26.

Sharing details of the third incident, Lt Gen Chaudhry said an army convoy was attacked near Bela-Winder along the N-25 highway.

He said 11 soldiers, including one junior commissioned officer and 10 jawans, embraced martyrdom in the attack, while 14 terrorists of the banned Baloch Liberation Army were killed.

The state refers to BLA-linked groups as Fitna al Hindustan, a term used for groups Pakistan accuses of being sponsored by India to carry out terrorist attacks inside the country.

The DG ISPR said security forces also killed six terrorists in an operation in Kharan and eight others in Dalbandin. He said all of them belonged to Fitna al Hindustan.

Speaking about those behind the attacks, Lt Gen Chaudhry accused India and “forces with India” of using territories under the control of the Afghan Taliban regime as bases for terrorist operations against Pakistan.

He claimed that a majority of the terrorists engaged and killed in recent operations “turn out to be Afghan”.

Referring to the June 27 attack on a Rangers camp in Karachi, he said three of the four attackers were Afghan nationals, adding that the planning and equipping of the attack was carried out from Afghanistan.

The DG ISPR said the recent attacks in Winder, Babrai and near Mangi Dam reflected “scheme, mastermind, intent, logistics and operational sequence”.

He said Balochistan’s development and prosperity were being targeted, including infrastructure meant for the people of the province.

“If that be it, then we are absolutely clear,” he said, adding that the armed forces, under the leadership of Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir and the guidance of the government, had complete clarity on how to deal with the threat.

“We will hunt you, and we will hurt you everywhere,” the DG ISPR declared.

He said the people and government of Balochistan also had clarity on the nature of the threat, adding that Chief Minister SarfrazBugti travelled by road to Ziarat and met people after the Mangi Dam incident.

Lt Gen Chaudhry said the state had made it clear over the past three years that terrorists had nothing to do with Islam and that Fitna al Hindustan had “nothing to do with Balochiyat”.

He said the government’s decision to expel illegal Afghans had also created concern among terrorist groups.

“You can only deter someone who knows how to be deterred. Nobody has been born in the world who can deter the Pakistani state,” the DG ISPR said.

“We are here and we will remain here. Pakistan is here, Balochistan is here and the people of Balochistan are here,” he added.

The military spokesperson vowed that security forces would take action against every terrorist, facilitator, handler and harbourer “wherever they are, without any distinction”.

He said security forces, law enforcement agencies and the people of Pakistan were fighting the war against terrorism and would achieve victory under all circumstances.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, meanwhile, praised the security forces for killing 54 terrorists in three days and paid tribute to the 42 civilians and personnel who embraced martyrdom.

“The brave sons of our dear homeland foiled the nefarious designs of Indian-sponsored terrorists by taking timely action,” Naqvi said in a statement.

He said the martyrs were the pride of the nation and their sacrifices reflected Pakistan’s firm resolve against terrorism.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026