As many as 78,000 intelligence-based operations were carried out across Balochistan during the current year, resulting in the killing of 707 militants in counter-terrorism actions, while 202 security personnel embraced martyrdom and 280 civilians lost their lives in terrorist incidents, officials said, highlighting improved security coordination despite an evolving militant threat increasingly targeting civilians.
Briefing the media at the Central Police Office here, Additional Chief Secretary for Home and Tribal Affairs Hamza Shafqat and Deputy Inspector General of Police, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), Aitzaz Ahmed Goraya said the operations were conducted as part of a comprehensive strategy involving the provincial government, security forces, and law enforcement agencies.
They said that, compared to last year, attacks on security forces had declined due to better intelligence sharing, coordination, and operational planning. However, they noted that militant groups had shifted their focus towards targeting civilians, calling it a disturbing trend aimed at creating fear and instability.
The officials said that three militants were arrested during a recent intelligence-based operation in Kharan and that further operations were underway based on information obtained from them.
Terming the United States’ designation of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) as a terrorist organisation as a major achievement of the year, the officials said the move had strengthened Pakistan’s stance against militant outfits operating in the province and beyond.
They said action would be initiated through Interpol against militants orchestrating terrorist activities in Pakistan from abroad. “The links of terrorist networks have consistently been traced to India and Afghanistan,” the officials said, adding that militants involved in the attack on the Frontier Corps headquarters were also connected to Afghanistan.
The officials also informed the media that the son of the Deputy Commissioner Ziarat, who was abducted from Ziarat, had been safely recovered. However, they said available information suggested that the deputy commissioner himself had been martyred, and a search operation was continuing to recover his body.
They said the federal government had provided an additional Rs10 billion to Balochistan, over and above its share under the National Finance Commission Award. The funds, they added, would be utilised to further strengthen security forces, enhance their operational capacity and capabilities, and improve infrastructure.
Additional measures, the officials said, were also being taken to ensure the safety of commuters travelling on national highways across the province.
Speaking on the occasion, DIG CTD Aitzaz Ahmed Goraya said the Station House Officer of Kharan was martyred in October after militants attempted to abduct him. “The SHO resisted the abduction attempt and was martyred when he refused to go with them,” he said, adding that the terrorists intended to exploit the abduction for propaganda purposes.
He said operations were continuing to arrest other members of the militant group involved in the incident and reiterated the resolve of law enforcement agencies to pursue terrorists and their facilitators without discrimination.
