RAWALPINDI (MNN); Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, on Tuesday detailed a series of recent terrorist attacks in Balochistan, stating that security forces have killed 40 militants while 38 security personnel embraced martyrdom during multiple operations.
Addressing a press conference in Rawalpindi, the military spokesperson said the briefing was aimed at informing the nation about the background and details of three major terrorist incidents that occurred in Balochistan over the past four days.
The DG ISPR said the first attack took place during the night of July 4-5 in Hanna Urak, where militants belonging to what the government refers to as “Fitna al-Khawarij” targeted innocent civilians. He said local residents courageously resisted the attackers, forcing them to flee.
According to Lt Gen Chaudhry, four civilians were martyred while six others sustained injuries during the assault.
The second and most intense incident occurred in Ziarat district, where militants launched a coordinated attack on a police checkpost guarding Pumping Station No. 3 of Mangi Dam.
He said the police personnel displayed extraordinary bravery and continued fighting despite being heavily outnumbered. During the initial exchange, 15 militants were killed while nine police officers, including two Station House Officers (SHOs), embraced martyrdom.
The military spokesperson said army and Frontier Corps reinforcements were immediately dispatched. However, before additional troops could reach the area, the attackers managed to capture several police officials as hostages.
He explained that security forces exercised maximum restraint during the rescue operation, avoiding the use of aerial firepower to protect the hostages from collateral damage.
Lt Gen Chaudhry said the operation continued in the mountainous region of Ziarat from July 6 onward. During the prolonged engagement, security forces further tightened the siege around the militants.
He revealed that before being neutralized, the militants martyred another 18 police personnel. The military spokesperson said the operation remains underway and security forces have so far confirmed the killing of an additional 11 militants.
Giving an overall assessment of the operation, he said 27 police personnel were martyred in the Ziarat incidents, while a total of 26 militants were killed.
The DG ISPR also disclosed details of a third terrorist attack that took place on Tuesday in the Bela-Winder area, where militants belonging to the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) attacked an army convoy.
He said 11 soldiers, including one Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and ten soldiers, embraced martyrdom during the attack.
Security forces responded swiftly, killing 14 BLA militants during the ensuing operation.
Lt Gen Chaudhry reaffirmed the resolve of Pakistan’s armed forces and law enforcement agencies to continue operations against terrorism until complete peace is restored, adding that sacrifices rendered by security personnel and civilians would not go in vain.
