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- ISPR says 21 terrorists killed; 14 personnel martyred in ongoing clearance operation
- Balochistan Chief Minister says terrorist attacks across the province kill 38
- 23 passengers died after identity check at Musakhail port, illegal Balochistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility
Quetta/Islamabad: The deadly violence included multiple attacks across Balochistan that left more than 50 people dead, including 23 passengers on the Musakhail, while in response, security forces killed 21 terrorists and injured several others.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti said that the terrorists claimed 38 innocent lives, including 23 bus passengers in Musakhail. Meanwhile, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a press release confirmed that a total of 14 security personnel, including four law enforcement officials, were martyred during the sweep operation, while 21 terrorists were killed in the sweep operation.
Terrorist incidents including explosions and grenade attacks were reported in several cities of the province, including Sibi, Panjgur, Mastung, Turbat, Beira and Quetta, while terrorists also blew up railway tracks and bridges in Bolan.
Eleven people, including four recruiters, were killed in Kalat and six more bodies were found in Bolan as time went on.
Later that day, the military issued a statement saying that 21 terrorists were killed and 14 security personnel (including 4 law enforcement agency personnel) were killed in the clearance operation. It is not clear whether the security force death toll includes the 4 conscripts who died in Qalat.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the government had a “clear idea” of who planned the attacks and who was responsible.
“They carried out all these attacks in a single day in a clear and well-thought-out manner,” Naqvi asserted.
The attackers ransacked a police station in Sonsal, Gwadar, seizing official weapons.
The militants also held people hostage in Levies Thana Khadkocha and exchanged fire with law enforcement agencies in Kalat.
“Four Indian soldiers, Ahsanullah, Ali Akbar, Rehmatullah and Nasibullah, were killed in the clash, along with police sub-inspector Huzoor Baksh, a tribal elder and two civilians,” said police chief Dostain Dashti.
Kalat district commissioner Naeem Bazai had earlier confirmed to Dawn that Kalat assistant commissioner Aftab Lasi was injured but in stable condition.
Meanwhile, clashes broke out along the Quetta-Karachi highway, leading to the closure of the road and the declaration of emergency in hospitals.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police Dost Mohammad Bugti, six bodies were found in Bolan district, including four from under a damaged bridge.
“According to initial reports, all the personnel were shot dead last night,” Senior Superintendent of Police Dost told reporters in Dadar city.
“The deceased were shot dead. Their identification process is yet to be completed,” the top superintendent of police said, adding that the bodies were being taken to Quetta for further identification.
According to a list of victims provided by Ayesha Faiz, police surgeon at Quetta Public Hospital, four of the six victims were from Punjab.
23 people died in Musahail as their identity check revealed them to be Punjabis
In another incident, gunmen forcibly dragged passengers from trucks and buses and shot them dead after verifying their identities on Monday morning, killing at least 23 people in the Musahair district, an official said.
According to Musakhail Assistant Commissioner Najeeb Kakar, the armed men blocked the inter-provincial highway in the Lalasham area of the district and unloaded passengers from several buses.
AC Kakar told AFP that the perpetrators had successively stopped several buses, vans and trucks on the highway connecting Punjab and Balochistan.
According to the official, the victims were reportedly from Punjab province.
AC Kakar added that the militants also set fire to 23 vehicles, including 17 trucks, two passenger vans and four pick-up trucks.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), the most active militant group in Balochistan, claimed responsibility for the attack, one of the worst shootings in the region in recent years.
ISPR: 14 soldiers killed, 21 terrorists neutralised
According to a statement issued by the military’s media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Monday, 21 terrorists were killed and 14 soldiers died in the line of duty as security forces and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) responded to the attack.
“The security forces and law enforcement agencies responded immediately and successfully foiled the nefarious plot of the terrorists in the ensuing clearance operation and killed 21 terrorists, thus ensuring the safety of the local people,” the ISPR said in a statement.
“However, during the operation, 14 brave Saudis, including 10 soldiers of the security forces and four personnel of law enforcement agencies, fought valiantly, made the ultimate sacrifice and recited the shahada.”
The statement said that a cleansing operation is underway and the instigators, perpetrators, facilitators and abettors of these heinous and cowardly acts against innocent civilians will be brought to justice.
“Pakistan’s security forces and law enforcement agencies stand in lockstep with the nation in their determination to thwart attempts to undermine peace, stability and progress in Balochistan and the sacrifice of our brave soldiers further strengthens our resolve.”
Interior Minister: Not a ‘Naraj Baloch’, but a terrorist
Interior Minister Naqvi vowed in a statement posted on social media platform X that “facts and evidence will be provided after an investigation into the attack.”
Later, Naqvi, speaking on the issue at a press conference in Lahore, vowed that “terrorists will be responded to like they are (should be) treated” instead of being called “naraaz (disgruntled) Baloch people”.
“We have a clear idea of who planned all this and who is behind it. They carried out all these attacks in a clear and well-thought-out manner within a day,” Naqvi asserted.
He said the entire leadership “decided to respond comprehensively to this.”
“The terrorists will be severely punished,” Naqvi said, adding that Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti “is absolutely right that those who carried out the attack are not Baloch people but terrorists.”
https://x.com/Shadowfox_11/status/1828032946583875697
The interior minister further said that the government was “working on an action plan” for talks with political leaders in Balochistan.
“For politicians who have to hold talks, the leadership is working on an action plan,” Naqvi said.
However, he also said: “For those who are dissatisfied, we will negotiate with them, and the federal and provincial governments will jointly move them forward, but in no case will these attackers be called dissatisfied Baloch people.”
Naqvi noted that Chief Minister Bugti had personally reviewed “all the details” and was in close communication with him and the security force chiefs.
condemn
The United Nations Secretary-General has strongly condemned the multiple attacks that took place in Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Monday and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.
“The secretary-general stresses that attacks against civilians are unacceptable,” the secretary-general’s spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said in response to questions at the regular midday briefing at UN headquarters in New York on Monday.
“He (the UN chief) expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and called on the Pakistani government to launch an investigation and hold those responsible accountable.”
Multiple attacks were reported in Balochistan, killing at least 39 people, including 23 passengers on the Musakhail.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack and expressed deep condolences for the martyrdom of police and recruiting personnel.
In a statement, he directed that best medical facilities be provided to the injured.
He also ordered an investigation into the attack to identify and punish the perpetrators.
President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the terrorist incidents in Razmik Bazar, North Waziristan and Kalat.
In a statement, the president expressed condolences to the families of the victims and vowed to continue working to “eradicate terrorism once and for all.”
He prayed for the deceased and their families and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
In a statement released by his department, Naqvi paid tribute to the security personnel who died in the line of duty and expressed sadness over the loss of “five civilians.”
“The sacrifice of the martyrs will be remembered forever,” the interior minister said.
“The enemy is carrying out a heinous conspiracy to create instability in the country. We will defeat this evil goal with our united strength,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said those in Balochistan fighting for the issue of missing persons and staging sit-in protest there should speak out on the unjust bloodshed in the province today.
“Protest and also to express solidarity with those whose loved ones became victims of terrorism in Balochistan today,” he wrote on X.
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