Overnight follow-up operations continue after coordinated BLA attacks across the province
Pakistan’s security forces have continued counterterrorism operations in Balochistan, killing 22 more terrorists during overnight follow-up actions, security sources said on Monday.
The latest casualties bring the total number of terrorists killed in operations over the past three days to at least 177, according to the sources.
The ongoing campaign involves sanitisation and clearance operations aimed at terrorists and their facilitators across multiple locations in the province. Security forces, including intelligence agencies and police, are tightening their cordon as part of the sustained effort, the sources said, adding that further losses have been inflicted on terrorist networks.
Earlier, speaking at a press conference in Quetta, Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti described the operation as one of the most extensive intelligence-led actions conducted in such a short timeframe. He said the crackdown followed a series of coordinated assaults claimed by the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
According to the military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations, terrorists launched coordinated attacks at several locations on Saturday, targeting security installations and civilian areas across Quetta, Mastung, Noshki, Dalbandin, Kharan, Panjgur, Tump, Gwadar and Pasni.
Read: 145 terrorists killed in 40-hour counterterror blitz
Security forces responded with sustained clearance operations and standoffs, killing 92 terrorists on the first day. The military said 18 civilians were also killed, while 15 security personnel “fought gallantly 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 at a family labour colony despite pleading for their lives.
He also said terrorists damaged surveillance infrastructure, including Safe City cameras in Quetta, but added that the system had since been improved and expanded to strengthen urban monitoring 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?” he asked.
