QUETTA, September 26: Pakistan’s military says security forces have killed 33 militants in operations across Balochistan since September 21, including 11 during an intelligence-based operation in Noshki on Friday. The figures were announced by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) and reported in today’s Dawn.
According to the military, five militants were killed on September 24 when forces raided additional hideouts during an ongoing operation. That brought the reported total at the time to 22. The subsequent Noshki operation raised the overall figure to 33. ISPR said personnel also recovered weapons, ammunition and explosives from the locations they searched.
The military described those targeted as members of groups it links to terrorism in Pakistan. Its allegations about foreign sponsorship are claims made by Pakistani authorities; the report did not present independent verification of those allegations. ISPR said clearance operations would continue in areas where it believes a threat remains.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the security forces after the announcement. The operations follow a period of heightened concern about violence in Balochistan. Citing the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, Dawn reported that recorded attacks in the province rose from 83 in July to 89 in August.
