Security forces kill 22 more terrorists in Balochistan operations

Balochistan – (Special Correspondent / Web Desk) – Security forces eliminated 22 additional terrorists during ongoing clearance operations in Balochistan, raising the death toll over the past 48 hours to 177, according to security officials. The operations were launched after terrorists carried out coordinated attacks across the province on Saturday.

The military’s media wing said militants linked to Fitna-al-Hindustan were behind the assaults, prompting a swift response in which more than 150 terrorists were neutralised. The state uses the term Fitna-al-Hindustan for Balochistan-based militant groups to underline what it describes as India’s involvement in spreading terrorism and instability in Pakistan.

Officials said the latest casualties occurred overnight as security forces continued their sweeps, adding that the crackdown is intensifying and the “noose is tightening” around remaining militants.

Meanwhile, residents in Quetta and several other cities continued to face disruptions on Monday as mobile internet services remained suspended for a third consecutive day. Mobile data services were shut down in areas including Quetta, Mastung, Kalat, Khuzdar, Nushki, Dalbandin and Kharan following Saturday’s attacks.

Balochistan’s Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Hamza Shafqaat told Dawn that the services would remain suspended today, but were expected to be restored tomorrow.

This is not the first time that the government has suspended internet services in Balochistan for security reasons: in November, it suspended mobile internet services in all 36 districts of the province for about a week.

During the early morning hours on Saturday, multiple terrorist cells attacked more than 10 cities and towns in Balochistan. The targets were primarily security and government installations.

Suicide bombers, including female attackers, were part of the assault force. Security forces engaged the terrorists in gun battles across the province.

During the skirmishes, 15 security personnel were martyred and 18 civilians lost their lives. As the attacks subsided, security forces launched a series of cordon-and-sweep operations to clear towns, cities, and the countryside of terrorist presence.

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Addressing the media on Sunday, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti expressed firm resolve to eliminate terrorists. Separately, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that peace has been established in Balochistan after Saturday’s attacks and security forces were now “engaged in a mopping-up operation”.