More than 71 militants killed in Balochistan operations over four days, Pakistan military says
By The South Asia Times
ISLAMABAD - More than 71 militants have been killed in Pakistani security operations across southwestern Balochistan province over the past 96 hours, the military’s media wing said Sunday, as Islamabad intensifies a counterterrorism campaign in the region.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said 33 militants were killed during Operation Shaban in the Shaban and surrounding areas of Quetta district, while security forces killed another 11 militants in an intelligence-based operation in Nushki and six others in Mand.
According to ISPR, the Shaban operation began on Sept. 21 after intelligence agencies identified what it described as multiple militant hideouts. Security forces subsequently cleared several positions following exchanges of fire and recovered weapons, ammunition and explosives.
The military said 23 militants were killed during intensified operations over the past 72 hours, bringing the reported number killed in Operation Shaban to 56 and the combined total across Balochistan to more than 71.
Pakistan's military said the Afghan Taliban authorities of involvement in terrorism in Pakistan and alleged that the militant groups targeted in the operations were sponsored by India.
ISPR uses the terms “Fitna Al-Khawarij” for the Pakistani Taliban, or TTP, and “Fitna Al-Hindustan” for Baloch terrorist groups and said they are involved in terrorist attacks in Balochistan.
Pakistani authorities have repeatedly said that India supports these terror groups.
The latest operations come amid heightened security tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Pakistan has accused terrorist groups based in Afghanistan of carrying out attacks inside Pakistan,
Pakistan also carried out airstrikes against suspected militant targets inside Afghanistan on Sept. 21, saying 28 militants were killed.
ISPR said clearance operations in Balochistan would continue until the security threat was eliminated. The military described the campaign as part of “Azm-e-Istehkam,” a counterterrorism framework approved by Pakistan's Federal Apex Committee under the National Action Plan.
