Operation Shaban toll reaches 88 as nine more militants killed in Balochistan

QUETTA: Nine more militants have been killed in the ongoing Operation Shaban in Balochistan, raising the overall number of militants killed since July 5 to 88, according to state-run Pakistan Television, which cited security sources on Saturday.

PTV said the operation was continuing across the province with the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps and police carrying out coordinated air and ground action against militant hideouts. The latest action brought the number of militants killed under Operation Shaban itself to 52, while the broader total since July 5, including intelligence-based operations, rose to 88.

In a post on X, PTV said, "Operation Shaban continues across Balochistan as the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps and police intensify coordinated air and ground operations against terrorist hideouts."

The broadcaster further quoted security sources as saying: "According to security sources, nine terrorists were killed in the latest action, taking the total eliminated under Operation Shaban to 52 and the overall tally since July 5, including intelligence-based operations, to 88"

According to security sources cited on Friday, the joint operation in the Shaban area of Quetta district began on July 5 and is targeting militants involved in the killing of 27 police personnel during an attack on a police post at the Mangi dam pumping station. The attackers first martyred nine police personnel, including two station house officers, and abducted 18 others at gunpoint.

The bodies of the abducted policemen were later recovered from the mountainous Zarghoon Gar area, according to the same account.

The latest report also said security sources had stated the operation would continue until all militants involved were eliminated.

Separately, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said on Friday that militants had also tried to attack a police station in the Zedi area of Khuzdar district earlier in the day, but the attempt was foiled.