Four security personnel, including a Pakistan Army major, were martyred and 24 terrorists killed during multiple intelligence-based operations in Balochistan and North Waziristan, the military’s media wing said on Saturday.
According to a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces have been conducting operations in and around Kolpur, Kardagap and Nushki in Balochistan since November 13.
The operations include area domination activities and patrols along the Quetta-Taftan National Highway (N-40), aimed at ensuring the safety of civilian traffic and maintaining security in the region.
ISPR said security forces killed eight suspected militants, including a suicide bomber, during an operation in Kolpur on the night of November 13 and 14.
The military identified those killed as members of the group it refers to as Fitna al-Hindustan (FAH) and said a substantial quantity of weapons and ammunition was recovered during the operation.
Pakistani authorities use the designation Fitna al-Hindustan for Balochistan-based militant organisations to emphasise what they allege is Indian involvement in terrorism and destabilisation within Pakistan.
The military statement further said that on November 14, militants attacked military vehicles conducting patrols using armed quadcopters.
The attack resulted in the martyrdom of Major Omer Minhas Nasir, a resident of Chakwal district, and Havildar Muhammad Adnan Khan, who belonged to Kotli Sattian.
ISPR condemned the attack and maintained that the incident would not weaken the determination of security forces to continue counterterrorism operations.
“This cowardly act has not shaken the resolve of the security forces. The tempo of operations will be maintained and IBOs will continue with the same vigour to secure the local population and eliminate the menace of terrorism,” the statement said.
The military added that clearance operations would continue in the affected areas until the remaining threats had been eliminated.
“Clearance operations in these areas will continue until the threat is completely neutralised,” ISPR said.
The statement reported a total of 24 militants killed and four security personnel martyred across operations in Balochistan and North Waziristan. However, the details provided specifically identified eight militants killed in Kolpur and two soldiers martyred in the subsequent quadcopter attack.
Further details concerning the remaining casualties and operations in North Waziristan were not included in the available portion of the statement.