Director General ISPR Lieutenant General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry on Wednesday said security forces and police had eliminated 54 terrorists during operations launched after three major terrorist attacks in Balochistan over the past four days, vowing that the campaign would continue until every terrorist is brought to justice.
Addressing a press conference on the security situation in Balochistan, the military spokesperson said terrorists carried out three major attacks between July 4 and July 6, targeting innocent civilians, police personnel and national infrastructure.
The first attack occurred on the night between July 4 and 5 in Hanna Urak and Ziarat, where terrorists attacked innocent civilians and a police check post. The second incident took place on July 6 in the Mangi Dam, Quetta Pumping Station area. Security forces also remained engaged in a prolonged encounter with terrorists in Ziarat from July 6 onwards.
The DG ISPR said the brave people of Balochistan and police personnel offered stiff resistance during the attacks. He said local police officers in Ziarat fought courageously despite being surrounded by terrorists.
According to the military spokesperson, police personnel alone eliminated at least 15 terrorists during the fighting. Nine terrorists were killed on the first day of operations, while another 18 were eliminated on the second day. In follow-up intelligence-based operations conducted in Kharan and Dalbandin today, security forces killed another 14 terrorists, including six in Kharan and eight in Dalbandin.
He said a total of 54 terrorists had been eliminated in connection with the three incidents.
The DG ISPR said 42 security personnel embraced martyrdom during the attacks, including 27 police officials and 11 soldiers of the Pakistan Army. He noted that all police personnel martyred in Ziarat belonged to the local area.
He said terrorists were holding innocent children hostage during one of the operations, making the rescue effort more challenging.
Lieutenant General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry accused India of sponsoring terrorism in Balochistan, saying the network referred to as Fitna al-Hindustan had no connection with the people or traditions of Balochistan.
He reiterated Pakistan’s longstanding position that Afghan soil was being used against Pakistan and alleged that the illegitimate Afghan Taliban regime was facilitating terrorist groups by providing them manpower and safe havens.
The DG ISPR said many terrorists eliminated during recent operations were Afghan nationals and claimed that the planning for the Karachi attacks had also taken place inside Afghanistan.
He vowed that operations against terrorists would continue until their complete elimination.
“No son of any mother can frighten or intimidate the State of Pakistan,” he said.
The military spokesperson stressed that terrorists would receive no concessions for targeting innocent civilians and security personnel.
“The position of the State of Pakistan is absolutely clear. Wherever terrorists are found, they will be made an example,” he said.
He added that Pakistan would pursue terrorists and their facilitators to every extent, declaring that the country would ultimately prevail in its war against terrorism.
