RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s security forces have killed 48 militants in a series of operations across Balochistan over the past two to three days, including 36 in fresh operations in Mastung, Quetta, Kalat and Sibi, the military said on Friday.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), six militants were killed during an intelligence-based operation in Mastung, while another 26 were killed after security forces located four militant hideouts in the Shaban area of Quetta district.
Two more militants were killed during a raid on a hideout in Kalat, while security forces killed another two after thwarting an attempted attack on a police station in the Bhag area of Sibi district, ISPR said.
The latest operations followed a separate intelligence-based action in Kalat on September 2 in which the military said 12 militants were killed after security forces located and raided a hideout. Weapons, ammunition and improvised explosive devices were also recovered or destroyed.
ISPR described those targeted in the operations as members of groups it refers to as Fitna al-Hindustan and Fitna al-Khawarij. Pakistani authorities use the latter term for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and the former for Balochistan-based militant groups they allege receive Indian backing. India has previously rejected Pakistani allegations that it sponsors militant violence in Balochistan.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the security forces following the operations and reiterated the government’s commitment to combating militancy.
The military said clearance and counterterrorism operations would continue as security forces searched for other militants in the affected areas.