Night surveillance operations continue following coordinated BLA attacks across province
Pakistani security forces have continued counter-terrorism operations in Balochistan, killing 22 more terrorists during overnight follow-up actions, security sources said on Monday.
The latest casualties bring the total number of terrorists killed in operations over the past three days to at least 177, according to sources.
The ongoing campaign involves disinfection and clearance operations targeting terrorists and their facilitators in multiple locations across the province. Security forces, including intelligence agencies and police, are reinforcing their cordon as part of the sustained effort, sources said, adding that more losses have been inflicted on terror networks.
Earlier, addressing a press conference in Quetta, Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti described the operation as one of the largest intelligence actions carried out in such a short time. He said the crackdown came after a series of coordinated attacks claimed by the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
According to the army’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations, terrorists launched coordinated attacks at several locations on Saturday, targeting security installations and civilian areas in Quetta, Mastung, Noshki, Dalbandin, Kharan, Panjgur, Tump, Gwadar and Pasni.
Read: 145 terrorists killed in 40-hour anti-terrorist bombing
Security forces responded with sustained clearance operations and clashes, killing 92 terrorists on the first day. The army said 18 civilians were also killed, while 15 security personnel “fought bravely and embraced martyrdom” during the operations.
Bugti accused the terrorists of deliberately targeting civilians and exploiting vulnerable populations. Referring to an incident in Gwadar, he said five women and three children were killed in a family labor colony despite pleading for their lives.
He also said terrorists damaged surveillance infrastructure, including Safe City cameras in Quetta, but added that the system had since been improved and expanded to strengthen urban monitoring and response capabilities.
The prime minister said terrorists used children as human shields during the Quetta attacks, complicating operational decisions. “They brought an 11-year-old boy with them. Should the police kill an 11-year-old boy?” asked.
