RAWALPINDI: More than 71 terrorists have been killed during security operations in different areas of Balochistan over the past 96 hours, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Sunday.
According to the military’s media wing, Pakistan’s intelligence agencies identified multiple hideouts of what it described as Indian-sponsored Fitna Al-Khawarij and Fitna Al-Hindustan in the Shaban area of Quetta district.
Based on credible intelligence, security forces launched an operation in Ziarat and surrounding areas on September 21.
During Operation Shaban, troops engaged the militants and cleared multiple hideouts following intense exchanges of fire. ISPR said 33 Indian-sponsored terrorists had been killed so far, while weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered.
The military said the operation had been intensified over the last 72 hours, resulting in the killing of 23 terrorists. Security forces also cleared a vast area and relieved local communities of the threat posed by the militants.
The clearance operation was continuing to completely neutralise the remaining threat, ISPR said.
In separate intelligence-based operations on September 25, security forces also targeted terrorist hideouts in Nushki and Mand.
In Nushki, troops effectively engaged a terrorist hideout and killed 11 Indian-sponsored terrorists, while in Mand, six Fitna Al-Hindustan terrorists were neutralised, according to ISPR.
A large quantity of weapons and ammunition was recovered during the operations, the military’s media wing said.
ISPR said that, including the operations in Shaban and other areas of Balochistan, more than 71 terrorists had been killed during the past 96 hours.
The military described the operations as a major setback to what it called Indian-backed Afghan proxies and said security forces would continue efforts to eliminate terrorist networks from the province.
The counter-terrorism campaign under the vision of Azm-e-Istehkam, approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, will continue with full resolve, ISPR said.
Security forces and law enforcement agencies remain committed to eliminating what the military describes as foreign-sponsored and foreign-supported terrorism from the country, it added.