Night tracking operations continue after coordinated BLA attacks across the province
Pakistani security forces continued their counter-terrorism operations in Balochistan, killing 22 more terrorists in nighttime follow-up operations, security sources said on Monday.
These latest victims bring the total number of terrorists killed during operations over the past three days to at least 177, according to sources.
The ongoing campaign includes disinfection and mine clearance operations aimed at terrorists and their facilitators in several locations across the province. Security forces, including intelligence agencies and police, are tightening their cordon as part of their sustained efforts, the sources said, adding that fresh losses have been inflicted on terrorist networks.
Earlier, addressing a press conference in Quetta, Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti described the operation as one of the largest intelligence actions carried out in such a short span of time. He said the crackdown followed a series of coordinated attacks claimed by the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
According to the military news agency Inter-Services Public Relations, terrorists launched coordinated attacks in several locations on Saturday, targeting security installations and civilian areas in Quetta, Mastung, Noshki, Dalbandin, Kharan, Panjgur, Tump, Gwadar and Pasni.
Read: 145 terrorists killed during 40-hour anti-terrorism operation
Security forces responded with sustained mine clearance operations and clashes, killing 92 terrorists on the first day. The military said 18 civilians were also killed, while 15 security force personnel “fought valiantly and embraced martyrdom” during the operations.
Bugti accused terrorists of deliberately targeting civilians and exploiting vulnerable populations. Referring to an incident in Gwadar, he said five women and three children were killed in a family labor colony while pleading for their lives.
He also said terrorists had damaged surveillance infrastructure, including Safe City cameras in Quetta, but added that the system had since been improved and expanded to strengthen urban surveillance and response capabilities.
The chief minister said terrorists used children as human shields during attacks in Quetta, complicating operational decisions. “They brought an 11-year-old child with them. Should the police kill an 11-year-old child?” he asked.
