Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has said that more than 54 terrorists were killed while 42 security personnel embraced martyrdom during a series of intelligence-based operations (IBOs) and counterterrorism engagements in Balochistan over the past four days.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, ISPR Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said security forces had conducted multiple operations against armed militants following a spate of terrorist attacks in the province.
The Director General ISPR said the security forces are continuing operations against the terrorists to eliminate them completely. He said India and other enemies of Pakistan are behind these terrorist activities as they are unable to digest Pakistan's stability, prosperity, and honour. He said terrorists are using territory under the control of the Afghan Taliban as a base of operations and that the Afghan Taliban are providing them with facilitation and manpower.
Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said these elements are frustrated because they know that all illegal Afghan nationals will be repatriated from Pakistan. He said they cannot deter Pakistan from its resolve to eradicate terrorism from its soil.
Reaffirming the armed forces' commitment, he said they will take on every terrorist and facilitator without any distinction.
He said three major terrorist incidents had taken place in Balochistan during the past four days, with militants belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij targeting innocent civilians to pursue their malicious objectives.
Providing details of the latest attack in Mangi, the military spokesperson said nine police personnel were martyred on the first day of the incident, while another 18 police officials embraced martyrdom on Wednesday, taking the overall police death toll to 27.
The press briefing comes amid persisting security concerns in the country, particularly Balochistan. The DG ISPR said he would provide details of the recent terrorist incidents in Balochistan and inform about the background of those.
He noted that there have been “three major terrorist incidents” in the past four days. The first took place on July 4/July 5 when “Fitna al Khawarij terrorists attacked the innocent local population” in Hanna Urak, he said, adding that the residents fought back very valiantly and “forced those terrorists belonging to Indian proxy Fitna Al Khwarij to flee”.
The DG ISPR noted that there have been three major terrorist incidents in the past four days. He said that the first took place on July 4/July 5 when “Fitna al Khawarij terrorists attacked the innocent local population” in Hanna Urak, he said, adding that the residents fought back very valiantly and “forced those terrorists belonging to Indian proxy Fitna Al Khwarij to flee”.
Detailing the second incident, he recalled that FAK terrorists carried out a multidirectional attack on a police checkpost, which guards Pumping Station No.3 of Mangi Dam in Ziarat district.
On late Monday night, at least nine policemen, including two station house officers (SHOs), were martyred in a terrorist attack on the police post in Ziarat. Fifteen terrorists were killed in a clearance operation initiated following the attack. The DG ISPR recalled that the policemen stood their ground and fought back and in that fight, 15 kharji were sent to hell, while nine policemen laid down their lives.
He noted that reinforcements of the army and the Frontier Corps were immediately dispatched, but before they could reach, the terrorists took the remaining police officials and took them hostage.
Lt Gen Chaudhry recalled that the FC, army personnel and other law enforcement agencies (LEAs) kept on engaging them and started surrounding them.
The DG ISPR said 18 policemen were martyred as engagement with terrorists continued in the mountains of Ziarat since July 6. “During this time, several khariji were killed as well, and once they knew that the net around them had been absolutely tightened, these cowards, low-lives martyred 18 brave personnel of Balochistan. They did that today,” he said, specifying that they were “18 of our police young boys”.
The ISPR spokesman noted that the operation was still underway, with 11 terrorists killed so far. Providing a breakdown of the casualties from the recent terrorist incidents, he said nine policemen were martyred on the first day (July 4/5) and another 18, bringing the total number of cops who lost their lives to 27.
On the losses inflicted upon the terrorists, he said the dead bodies were counted at the checkpost once they left the place were 15, and we have confirmed 11 today, so total 26 kharijis have been killed.
Providing details of the third terrorist incident that took place today, Lt Gen Chaudhry said an army convoy in the area of Bela, Winder, and had an “engagement” with terrorists of the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). The convoy was attacked and 11 soldiers — one junior commissioned officer and 10 jawaans — were martyred, and 14 terrorists of BLA Fitna al Hindustan were killed, he said, adding that the incident took place near the N-25 highway.