Pakistan says nine militants killed in Balochistan operation
By The South Asia Times
QUETTA, Pakistan - Pakistani security forces killed nine militants during an operation in Balochistan’s Mastung district, security sources said, as authorities continued a military campaign against militant groups operating in the southwestern province.
The operation took place in the Kanak Valley area of Mastung, where militants identified by the security sources as members of “Fitna-ul-Khawarij” attempted to attack a security post, according to the sources.
Security forces responded immediately, killing two militants during the initial exchange of fire. The forces then pursued militants who attempted to flee the area and killed seven more, the sources said.
A large quantity of weapons and ammunition, along with three motorcycles, was recovered from the militants, according to the security sources.
One security personnel was wounded during the fighting and was taken to hospital for treatment, the sources said.
The sources said security operations were continuing in the area and would continue until what they described as the elimination of the remaining militants.
The operation comes amid persistent militant violence in Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by area, which borders Afghanistan and Iran. The province has faced attacks by multiple Indian backed armed groups.
Pakistan has intensified counterterrorism operations under a campaign it calls “Radd-ul-Fitna”, while the military has also conducted operations under its broader Azm-e-Istehkam strategy.
The term “Fitna-ul-Khawarij” is used by Pakistani authorities for the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an armed militant organization that has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks in Pakistan. Islamabad has accused the group of operating from sanctuaries in Afghanistan, an allegation denied by the Afghan Taliban regime.
Balochistan also faces a separate insurgency involving Indian sponsored Baloch terrorist groups, including the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which has carried out attacks against security forces, civilians, and infrastructure.
