ISLAMABAD: Twenty-one terrorists were killed during retaliatory operations conducted by security forces and law enforcement agencies in Pakistan southwestern Balochistan province, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Monday.
Pakistan’s military said 14 troops- 10 personnel of security forces and four others of law enforcement agencies-, and 21 militants, were killed in fighting after the largest of the attacks, which targeted vehicles from buses to goods trucks on a major highway.
“We have confirmed 39 people killed in several coordinated attacks carried out by the terrorists,” Shahid Rind, a spokesman for the Balochistan provincial government, told a foreign news agency AFP.
Out of it, at least 23 passengers were shot dead after being pulled off trucks and buses at a checkpoint near Rara Sham in Musakhel district of Balochistan.
According to ISPR, on the night of August 25-26, 2024, terrorists launched multiple attacks in Balochistan, aiming to disrupt the region’s peace and development. These attacks primarily targeted innocent civilians in Musa Khel, Kalat, and Lasbela districts, resulting in numerous civilian casualties.
In Musa Khel district, terrorists intercepted a bus in the Rara Sham area and maliciously attacked civilians who were working in Balochistan to support their families. The swift response by security forces and law enforcement agencies effectively thwarted the terrorists’ plans, leading to the death of 21 terrorists in a retaliatory operation.
Tragically, 12 security personnel, including ten soldiers and four law enforcement officials, lost their lives during these operations while fighting bravely. Their sacrifices were pivotal in restoring order and protecting the community.
Ongoing sanitization operations are being conducted to identify and apprehend those responsible for these heinous acts. The ISPR emphasized that the instigators, perpetrators, facilitators, and abettors of these attacks will be held accountable.
Pakistan’s security forces and law enforcement agencies, in solidarity with the nation, remain resolute in their efforts to preserve peace, stability, and progress in Balochistan.
“The sacrifices of our courageous soldiers only strengthen our resolve to thwart any attempts to undermine the region’s security and development,” ISPR concluded.
