According to the Pakistani newspaper Dawn, on September 4th local time, the Pakistani Ministry of Defence issued a statement stating that Pakistani security forces had carried out 'intensive' counter-terrorism operations in Balochistan over the past three days, resulting in the killing of 48 terrorists.
The Pakistan Armed Forces Public Relations Department stated that the operation was carried out in areas such as Mashtun, Quetta, Karat, and Sibi in Balochistan. The purpose of the operation was to target ‘Indian-backed terrorists’ and the extremist organization ‘Pakistani Taliban’.
According to the details of the operation reported by the department, Pakistani security forces killed six terrorists in the Masthon area, and seized and destroyed a batch of weapons, ammunition, and improvised explosive devices. In the Quetta area, security forces discovered four terrorist hideouts, and during the firefight, they killed 26 terrorists.
In the Karat area, security forces killed 12 terrorists during an intelligence-based operation, and also killed 2 more terrorists in an ambush of a hideout.
Meanwhile, security forces also thwarted a terrorist attempt to attack a police station in Sibi area, and two terrorists were killed.
Pakistan's Ministry of Defence stated in a statement: "Over the past 48 to 72 hours, 48 terrorists affiliated with the Baitullah Talib group have been killed across various regions of Balochistan."
Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz subsequently issued a statement emphasizing that the government will not allow terrorists to undermine peace in Balochistan. Pakistani President Zardari also stated that the continuous actions of law enforcement agencies and security forces are aimed at “eliminating terrorist activities supported by external forces”.
Recently, terrorist activities have increased significantly in Balochistan, Pakistan. From the evening of August 31st to the early hours of September 1st, a group of terrorists launched a coordinated attack on a local customs building. Although Pakistani security forces effectively counterattacked and killed 10 terrorists, six members of the security forces were killed in the firefight.
The monthly assessment report by the Pakistan Institute of Conflict and Security Studies indicates that the security situation in Balochistan remains extremely severe. The number of terrorist attacks increased from 83 in July to 89 in August, an increase of 7%.
