In a successful operation, security forces on Friday in Balochistan killed five terrorists who had raided a security post in the Hoshab area the previous night, the military said in a statement.
Having successfully repulsed the distant fire raid, security forces pursued the escaping terrorists into the nearby mountains of Balore using aerial surveillance means, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
ISPR added that, as a follow-up during an encircling operation launched to cut off fleeing terrorists, a heavy exchange of fire took place between terrorists and a security forces party.
"During the skirmish, five terrorists have been sent to hell so far and cache of arms and ammunition has been recovered. The operation, however, continues to track few fleeing terrorists into adjoining areas," ISPR stated
The ISPR reaffirmed that the security forces remain determined to thwart any attempts at sabotaging the peace, stability, and progress of Balochistan, in step with the nation.
With a long history of valour and commitment to the nation, the army has played a critical role in protecting Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In recent years, the army has launched several successful operations against terrorist groups operating in different parts of the country, including Balochistan.
These operations have been crucial in dismantling the terrorist infrastructure and eliminating the threat posed by these groups to the civilian population and security forces alike.
During his maiden press conference, on April 25, as director general of the ISPR, Maj-Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry had revealed that a total of 8,269 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) had been conducted since January as a result of which 1,535 terrorists had been killed or apprehended.
Of these, 4,040 IBOs were conducted in Balochistan, another 3,591 in K-P, 119 in Punjab and 519 operations were conducted in Sindh. On average, over 70 IBOs were being conducted daily by the army, police and LEAs since January, he continued.In a press release, the ISPR said that a “group of terrorists attacked an FC camp in Muslim Bagh area in northern Balochistan”.“In the process of clearance operation, two soldiers have embraced shahadat (martyrdom) while another three are injured,” it added.
“So far, two terrorists have been sent to hell by the security forces, who continue to maintain pressure on the terrorists.”
The statement said that an operation by the security forces was “under way to capture the terrorists who have been cornered into a building complex” while a heavy exchange of fire was also taking place.
The ISPR further said: “Commander 12 Corps is supervising the security forces operations being conducted at Muslim Bagh area in Balochistan where terrorists have been cornered.”
Surge in terrorism
Over the past few months, the law and order situation in the country has worsened, with terrorist groups executing attacks with near impunity across the country.
Since the talks with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) broke down in November last year, the outfit has intensified its attacks, particularly targeting the police in KP and areas bordering Afghanistan.
Earlier this month, experts at a discussion warned that the TTP was forging a nexus with Baloch separatists and local militant groups based in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan — a development that will likely exacerbate the already precarious security situation in the country.
On April 1, four soldiers were martyred in a terrorist attack along the Pak-Iran border in the Jalgai sector of Balochistan’s Kech district.
On March 10, five terrorists were killed by security forces in intelligence-based operations (IBO) carried out in North and South Waziristan. On March 8, six terrorists were killed by security forces in an IBO in North Waziristan’s Datta Khel general area.
According to statistics released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, an Islamabad-based think-tank, January 2023 remained one of the deadliest months since July 2018, as 134 people lost their lives — a 139 per cent spike — and 254 received injuries in at least 44 militant attacks across the country.
