23 Terrorists Killed in Balochistan Operation

23 Terrorists Killed in Balochistan Operation

Rawalpindi, The Gulf Observer: 23 terrorists has been killed in Balochistan Operation while 18 Frontier Corps (FC) soldiers embraced martyrdom during an operation in the Mangocher area of Balochistan’s Kalat district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Saturday.

In a statement, the military’s media wing said that last night, terrorists attempted to establish roadblocks in the general area of Mangocher. At the behest of inimical and hostile forces, the ISPR added, this cowardly act of terrorism aimed to disrupt the province’s peaceful environment by targeting innocent civilians.

Security forces and law enforcement agencies were immediately mobilized in response, successfully thwarting the terrorists’ plans. In the ensuing operation, 12 terrorists were neutralized. “However, during the conduct of operations, eighteen brave sons of [the] soil, having fought gallantly, made the ultimate sacrifice and embraced shahadat,” the statement read.

In a follow-up sanitization operation on Saturday, 11 more terrorists were gunned down in Harnai district, bringing the total number of killed militants to 23. The ISPR stated that sanitization operations would continue until the perpetrators and facilitators of this heinous act are brought to justice. Security forces remain determined to thwart attempts at sabotaging peace, stability, and progress in Balochistan.

Defense Analyst Qamar Cheema emphasized internationalizing the issue of advanced weapons in Afghanistan. He highlighted how modern weapons left in Afghanistan are being used by terrorist groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), with political support from India. He urged Pakistan to raise this matter on international forums, including the UN Security Council, where Pakistan is a non-permanent member.

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep grief and sorrow over the martyrdom of 18 security personnel. He paid tribute to the martyred soldiers and prayed for their high ranks, while also reiterating that security forces would continue operations to eliminate enemies of the country.

This tragic incident comes amid a surge in violent attacks since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021. The year 2024 has been particularly deadly, with at least 685 security personnel fatalities and 444 terror attacks reported, according to the CRSS Annual Security Report 2024. Overall, Pakistan witnessed 2,546 violence-linked fatalities and 2,267 injuries among civilians, security personnel, and outlaws, making it one of the deadliest years in the country’s recent history.