- Sanitation operations underway against terrorists and facilitators.
- Security sources say there are reports of fresh losses at the hands of militants.
- Intelligence agencies and police tighten the noose around the terrorists.
ISLAMABAD: Security forces have eliminated 22 more terrorists, taking the total number of militants shot dead in Balochistan in the last three days to 177, security sources said on Monday.
They added that security forces, intelligence agencies and police are tightening the noose around terrorists and facilitators.
Noting that disinfection operations were underway against Fitna al-Hindustan terrorists, sources said there are reports of more casualties and deaths of terrorists and their facilitators.
The latest count of 177 comes after Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said on Sunday that more than 150 militants had been neutralized by security forces in Balochistan.
The counter-terror operations come as terrorists affiliated with the Indian-sponsored Fitna al-Hindustan carried out coordinated attacks in 12 cities, targeting civilians in Quetta, Mastung, Nushki, Dalbandin, Kharan, Panjgur, Tump, Gwadar and Pasni on Saturday.
During the attacks, carried out by the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), at least 31 civilians and 17 security personnel embraced martyrdom, confirmed Balochistan CM Sarfraz Bugti, speaking in Geographic news program ‘Naya Pakistan’ a day before.
Expanding on reports that claimed the number of attackers was 1,000 to 2,000, the CM termed them “incorrect” and said the maximum number of terrorists involved in the attacks was not more than 200 to 250, of whom, he said, most had been driven out or killed.
He also noted that the province’s problem was not political and could only be addressed through a military response.
Responding to a question about the overall strength of militant networks in the province, Bugti said the total number of terrorists, their sympathizers and facilitators was estimated between 4,000 and 5,000.
A day earlier, CM Bugti had accused hostile elements of trying to destabilize Pakistan at the behest of India and questioned whether the BLA was a registered political party with whom talks could be held.
The provincial chief executive also rejected attempts to link terrorism and violence in Balochistan solely with deprivation and said terrorists merge with civilian populations, making operations extremely sensitive. He added that authorities could have eliminated the militants with heavy firepower, including mortars, but refrained from doing so to avoid civilian casualties.
He explained that terrorists often mix with civilians and that the state did not want to become brutal like them.
The CM said that reports indicated that Afghan nationals were operating alongside the terrorists and highlighted that all types of weapons have been used in these terrorist attacks.
