QUETTA: Security forces completed the clearance operation on Wednesday in Mach and other areas of Kachhi district, killing nearly a dozen terrorists and arresting their three accomplices who were injured during the gun battles.

The Quetta-Sukkur national highway, which remained closed for three days, was reopened on Wednesday. Due to the highway closure, hundreds of trucks, passenger coaches and other vehicles remained stranded in Dhadar and other areas.

Train services, however, were still suspended as terrorists had damaged the tracks at some places.

Officials said the situation in Mach town was returning to normality, after an orchestrated gun and rocket attack.

Train service remains suspended due to damaged tracks

During the operation, security forces and counter-terrorism department personnel also got freed seven hostages from a house, killing all the terrorists at the hideout.

“During the 40 hours of gun battle, the people of Mach stayed indoors without electricity,” a resident said, requesting anonymity.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the spokesman for the banned BLA, which had claimed responsibility for the Mach ambush, said the outfit had decided to ‘wind up’ its attacks from 7pm.

Officials said that the terror attacks claimed 12 lives. The dead included four police personnel and three labourers.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the military’s media wing ISPR claimed that nine terrorists were eliminated during the security operation. Earlier on Monday night, SHO Sajjad Solangi, along with other policemen, fought the terrorists gallantly, killing two of them on the spot. In the exchange of fire, he embraced martyrdom.

Meanwhile, Balochistan Minister for Information Jan Achakzai confirmed that the clearance operation had been completed and said the pictures of the terrorists who were killed by the security forces would be released.

The minister said that the outlawed BLA, which had been claiming to have taken control of Mach town, “accepted defeat”. He said the area people saluted security forces personnel who chased down terrorists and defeated them. He said security forces saved many lives. He also confirmed the reopening of the highway for traffic.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2024