DG ISPR: 42 personnel martyred, 54 FAK terrorists killed in Balochistan attacks in past 4 days

ISPR Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry says three major terrorist attacks took place in Balochistan during the past four days.

Speaking at a press conference, he detailed that the first attack occurred on the night between July 4 and July 5 in Hanna Urak, where Fitna al-Khawarij terrorists targeted local residents.

He said that local people resisted the attackers and forced them to retreat, adding that four civilians were killed in the attack, while six others were injured.

Speaking about the second incident, the DG ISPR said militants launched a coordinated attack on a police checkpost protecting Pumping Station No. 3 of Mangi Dam in Ziarat district. The attack took place late on Monday night, he said, adding that the policemen defended the checkpost and killed 15 militants during the fighting. However, nine police personnel, including two station house officers (SHOs), lost their lives.

He said army and Frontier Corps (FC) reinforcements were sent immediately after the attack. However, before they arrived, the attackers took the remaining police personnel hostage. He added security forces found the bodies of 15 militants at the site after reaching the area. He said that the police personnel deployed at the checkpost were local residents.

The DG ISPR said personnel of the FC, Pakistan Army and other law enforcement agencies continued pursuing the militants and surrounded them in the area. He said security forces avoided using air power because the attackers were holding police personnel hostage and there was a risk of civilian casualties.

Lt Gen Chaudhry said fighting between security forces and militants had continued in the mountains of Ziarat since July 6. During the operation, he said, 18 more police personnel were killed after the militants realised they had been surrounded. He said all 18 of the slain personnel belonged to the Balochistan Police.

The military spokesman said the operation is still in progress. According to him, security forces have so far killed another 11 militants during the ongoing operation.

Giving an overall account of the casualties, Lt Gen Chaudhry said nine policemen were killed in the initial attack, while another 18 lost their lives during the subsequent operation, raising the total number of police personnel killed to 27.

He said security forces had killed a total of 26 militants, including 15 whose bodies were recovered from the checkpost and 11 more during the ongoing operation.