Pakistan says 10 militants, including woman, killed in Gwadar
By The South Asia Times
ISLAMABAD - Pakistani security forces have killed 10 militants, including a woman, during operations in the southwestern province of Balochistan after attempted attacks near the Gabd border crossing and in Gwadar city, the military said on Friday.
In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military's media wing, said the attacks took place on October 22 and were allegedly carried out by militants sponsored by India.
The military said security forces launched clearance operations in and around Gwadar to protect residents and prevent further attacks.
“Ten terrorists, including one female terrorist,” were killed in separate engagements, the statement said.
One civilian was killed during the attacks, while several vehicles were damaged, according to the military. No security personnel were killed or injured, it added.
The military accused the militants of attempting to undermine state authority and obstruct development in Balochistan, a resource-rich province that has experienced a long-running insurgency.
It also alleged that a Baloch woman had been coerced into participating in the attacks, describing the alleged involvement of women as an exploitation of local traditions and public sentiment.
The military did not provide further details about the woman or independently verifiable evidence supporting its claims about the attacks.
The statement said the operations had concluded and order had been restored in the affected areas.
Pakistan will continue its counterterrorism campaign under the “Azm-e-Istehkam” framework, approved by the Federal Apex Committee under the National Action Plan, the military said.
Security forces and law enforcement agencies remain committed to eliminating what the military described as foreign-sponsored terrorism, the statement added.
