QUETTA: A leader of a banned terrorist organisation was killed during an exchange of fire with security forces in Pasni city of Gwadar district on the night between Saturday and Sunday. The exchange of fire took place after the security forces conducted an operation in the area.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the security forces conducted the operation after they received information that some militants were hiding in a house in Pasni.

The statement said when the security forces after cordoning off the area were moving towards the house the men hiding in it opened fire on them in a bid to escape. The security forces returned fire and the exchange of fire continued for some time during which one suspected militant, identified as Hidayat aka Balaach, was killed. According to ISPR, in another intelligence-based operation in Khuzdar district, security forces arrested two suspected militants.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2022