Pakistan says 21 militants killed in overnight operations in Balochistan
By The South Asia Times
ISLAMABAD - Pakistan’s security forces killed 21 militants in separate operations in the southwestern province of Balochistan, including an attack targeting a customs facility, the military said Tuesday.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, said the operations took place overnight from Aug. 31 to Sept. 1 in Nokcha in Chagai district and Ziarat Cross in Pishin district.
According to ISPR, 11 militants were killed after security forces responded to an attempt to establish an illegal checkpoint along the N-40 Quetta-Taftan Highway. The military said the militants were attempting to extort money from commuters and that weapons, ammunition and explosives were recovered from the site.
In a separate incident, 10 militants were killed after fighters launched a coordinated attack on the Customs House, according to the statement. Security forces also engaged militants who attempted to flee, causing additional casualties, it said.
ISPR attributed the two groups involved to what it described as “Indian-sponsored proxies” of Fitna al-Hindustan and Fitna al-Khawarij. Such designations are part of Pakistan’s official terminology for militant groups it says are involved in terrorism.
The military described the Customs House attack as part of a “terror-crime nexus,” alleging that the assault was intended to prevent customs officials from carrying out their duties and facilitate criminal activity in the area.
Six people, including two security officers and a Customs Department official, were martyred during the exchange of fire, ISPR said.
Security forces were continuing clearance operations in surrounding areas to search for any remaining militants and secure local communities and key highways, the statement added.
Pakistan has intensified counterterrorism operations under its Azm-e-Istehkam strategy, approved by the federal Apex Committee under the country’s National Action Plan.
ISPR said security forces and law-enforcement agencies would continue operations against what it called foreign-sponsored and foreign-supported terrorism.
