Pakistan’s military on Wednesday paid glowing tribute to the courage and sacrifice of Balochistan Police, saying local officers stood their ground against heavily armed terrorists during the recent wave of attacks despite being vastly outnumbered, inflicting significant losses on the attackers before embracing martyrdom.
Speaking at a press conference on the security situation in Balochistan, the military’s spokesperson said the province’s police force displayed extraordinary resolve during three major terrorist attacks over the past four days, describing their resistance as a reflection of the determination of the people of Balochistan to defend their homeland.
He said police personnel were among the first responders during the attacks and fought alongside other law enforcement and security agencies under extremely challenging circumstances.
Highlighting the battle in Ziarat, the military spokesperson said local police personnel confronted terrorists with exceptional courage, refusing to surrender despite coming under intense assault.
According to the military, police personnel eliminated at least 15 terrorists during the encounter, inflicting heavy casualties on the attackers before several officers embraced martyrdom.
He noted that all police personnel martyred in Ziarat belonged to the local area, saying their sacrifice underscored the commitment of Balochistan’s own sons to protecting their communities from terrorism.
The spokesperson said the terrorists eventually tightened their siege, leading to the martyrdom of 18 police personnel during the prolonged confrontation. Despite the difficult circumstances, he said, the resistance offered by the officers disrupted the attackers’ plans and bought valuable time for follow-up operations.
Overall, he said, 27 police personnel laid down their lives during the three major terrorist incidents in Balochistan, forming the largest share of the 42 security personnel who embraced martyrdom. Eleven soldiers of the Pakistan Army also sacrificed their lives while responding to the attacks.
He said the sacrifices of police personnel demonstrated that the fight against terrorism was not being waged by security forces alone but was being led jointly by local law enforcement, the armed forces and the resilient people of Balochistan.
“The brave people of Balochistan and its police fought with remarkable courage,” the spokesperson said, praising their steadfastness in the face of terrorist violence.
He added that the recent attacks once again illustrated that terrorists deliberately targeted those responsible for protecting ordinary citizens, but failed to break the resolve of law enforcement personnel.
The military spokesperson said the sacrifices of the fallen officers would strengthen, rather than weaken, Pakistan’s resolve to eradicate terrorism from the province.
He reaffirmed that operations against terrorist groups would continue until their complete elimination, adding that every attack on security personnel would be met with an even stronger response.
Paying tribute to the martyrs, the spokesperson said their courage had become a symbol of national resilience and would be remembered as part of Pakistan’s continuing struggle against terrorism.
He concluded by expressing confidence that the sacrifices made by Balochistan Police, together with those of the armed forces and other law enforcement agencies, would not go in vain and that Pakistan would ultimately prevail in its campaign to restore lasting peace and stability in the province.
