Pakistani security forces have killed 73 terrorists in intelligence-based operations across Balochistan over the past few days, the army said on Sunday. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistani Army, said the operations were carried out over the past 96 hours in Quetta, Ziarat, Noshki and the Mand area in Tump district against banned militant organisations
The ISPR said 33 terrorists were killed in the Shaban area of Quetta after security forces engaged them in intense exchanges of fire and cleared multiple hideouts. It said weapons, ammunition and explosives were recovered. In Ziarat, where the operation began on September 21, the military said action was intensified over the past 72 hours, leading to the killing of 23 terrorists.
According to the ISPR, 11 terrorists were killed in separate operations in Noshki district on Friday, while another six were killed in Mand, where a large quantity of weapons and ammunition was recovered. The army said the operations targeted members of groups it describes as "Fitna al Khawarij". Pakistan uses the term "Fitna al Khawarij" for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
The ISPR also alleged in its statement that the Afghan Taliban government's involvement in terrorist activities in Pakistan "continues to cause loss of precious lives and threaten peace and stability". There was no immediate response from the Afghan Taliban government to the allegation. President Asif Ali Zardari praised the security forces for the operations and described the clearing of several militant hideouts in Balochistan as a major success.
Separately, Senior Superintendent of Police, Duki district, Mansoor Buzdar said unidentified armed men targeted a construction site in the Palari area and abducted 12 workers. "A security guard at the site was killed when he offered resistance while two other guards were injured," Buzdar said. Militants in Balochistan target mines and construction sites and abduct workers from other provinces. The province, which borders Afghanistan, has seen an increase in violence by multiple militant organisations, with civilians and government officials among the main targets.
In a separate incident in the province, unidentified armed men attacked a construction site in Duki district and abducted 12 workers, according to police. A security guard was killed in the attack and two others were injured.
The operations and the abduction underline the continuing security challenge in Balochistan, where Pakistani forces say they have carried out multiple actions against militants even as fresh violence has been reported from other parts of the province.
