Three more terrorists killed as Operation Shaban continues in Balochistan

QUETTA: Security forces killed three more terrorists in Balochistan on Thursday as Operation Shaban continued across the province, according to state-run Radio Pakistan, which cited security sources.

The latest killings raised the number of terrorists killed in Operation Shaban to 91, while a total of 129 terrorists have been killed in Operation Shaban and other intelligence-based operations in Balochistan since July 5, state media reported. Radio Pakistan also quoted security sources as saying the operation would continue until all terrorists had been eliminated.

Operation Shaban was launched after 27 police personnel were martyred in an attack on a police post in the Mangi dam area. Of them, nine were killed at the site of the attack, while 18 were abducted and later killed by terrorists. Troops from the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps and police are taking part in the joint operation.

Security situation in Balochistan

Balochistan has faced militancy for a prolonged period. A monthly security assessment by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies said Pakistan’s security situation worsened sharply in May after two months of improvement, mainly because of rising militant violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

Balochistan was the worst-affected province during the month, recording 71 terrorist attacks compared to 34 in April, an increase of 109 per cent. The assessment also said kidnappings rose significantly, with 52 of the 54 abductions reported nationwide in May taking place in Balochistan.

Leadership vows action

Last week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the country’s civilian and military leadership had taken what he described as a united decision to eradicate terrorism following several major attacks in Balochistan. He made the remarks while chairing a meeting of the Provincial Apex Committee on the National Action Plan in Quetta, which was also attended by Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir.

At the meeting, the prime minister said:

“One thing is decided: it is a mutual and singular decision of the civil and military leadership that we must end terrorism collectively.”

His statement came a day after Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, at a press conference, blamed India and Afghanistan for recent attacks in Balochistan. He referred to three major incidents in recent days: an armed attack on the outskirts of Quetta on July 5, an assault on a police post in Ziarat on July 6, and an ambush on an army convoy in Bela on July 7.