QUETTA: Balochistan’s Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo and Senate Chairman Mohammad Sadiq Sanjrani visited the Frontier Corps headquarters on Sunday and paid tribute to the martyrs and soldiers who repulsed armed attacks in Panjgur and Nushki areas last week and killed the terrorists behind the assaults.

Mr Bizenjo and Mr Sanjrani visited the Frontier Corps camp that was attacked by the armed terrorists on Thursday and were briefed by the provincial FC commandant.

Speaking to the troops on the occasion, Mr Bizenjo said that by the grace of Allah, Pakistan’s security forces had always fought the enemy with courage and bravery and inflicted a humiliating defeat on them.

“The terrorist incidents in Nushki and Panjgur are a clear example of this, where the FC soldiers secretly punished the terrorists who carried out the cowardly attacks and also sacrificed their lives to protect the homeland,” he said.

On Feb 2, terrorists attempted to attack security forces’ camps in Balochistan’s Panjgur and Nushki areas in two separate attacks. However, security forces thwarted both the attacks and killed 20 terrorists in a subsequent clearance operation.

The chief minister said that despite coming under a sudden attack, the forces gave a rapid and strong response which was proof of their professional ability, courage and training. “Through their great achievement and defeat to the enemy, they have given us a chance to be proud of our army, FC, police and the Levies Force,” he said.

He said it was not possible to move freely in various parts of the province before 2013 but today people could go anywhere, educational institutions had been opened, people were running their business, investment was also coming in the province and jobs were being created.

Mr Sanjrani also extended felicitations to the FC on the successful operation and reiterated the nation’s resolve to never allow terrorists to destabilise the country. “Terrorists will not be allowed to succeed in their nefarious designs. We will not rest until the elimination of terrorism from the country,” he said.

Later, the chief minister, the Senate chairman and other provincial ministers also visited the Shuhada memorial, laid flowers and prayed for the forgiveness of the martyrs.

The attacks

In Panjgur, terrorists had tried to enter a security forces’ camp from two locations. “However, timely response by troops foiled their attempt. During an intense exchange of fire, one soldier embraced martyrdom,” the military’s media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement after the attacks.

In Nushki, terrorists attempted to enter an FC camp which was “promptly responded”, the ISPR said, adding that four terrorists were killed as a result.

On Saturday, the ISPR said security forces had completed the operation against terrorists in Panjgur and Nushki. Nine security personnel, including an officer and a junior commissioned officer, were martyred and six others injured in the 72-hour operation.

The statement said 20 terrorists were killed during the operation.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2022