QUETTA: Security forces have killed 13 Indian-sponsored militants during an ongoing clearance operation in the Shaban area of Quetta, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Wednesday.
According to the military’s media wing, intelligence agencies had reported the presence of multiple hideouts of militants described by the ISPR as Fitna Al Khawarij and Fitna Al Hindustan in the Shaban area of Quetta.
The clearance operation began on September 21 to protect the local population and eliminate the reported terrorist threat. Security forces engaged militants and cleared several hideouts during the operation.
Following intense exchanges of fire, 13 militants were killed, while weapons, ammunition and explosives were recovered from the cleared locations.
The ISPR said the operation would continue until the threat in the area was fully neutralised.
In separate intelligence-based operations conducted on September 22 and 23 in Kech district and Quetta West, security forces also killed six militants following exchanges of fire.
Weapons and ammunition were recovered during the operations.
The ISPR said Subedar Muhammad Jamil, 39, a resident of Taunsa Sharif in Dera Ghazi Khan, was martyred while fighting the militants.
The military said the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign was being conducted under the framework of “Azm-e-Istehkam”, approved by the Federal Apex Committee under the National Action Plan.
The ISPR reiterated that security forces and law enforcement agencies remain committed to countering what it described as foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism across the country.