QUETTA: Two terrorists were killed and five others, including a commander, arrested in separate operations in Zhob and Pishin districts of Balochistan, according to military’s media wing.

The security forces recovered suicide jackets, explosives and a big quantity of arms and ammunition from their hideout.

The Inter-Services Pub­lic Relations (ISPR) said that security forces conducted a successful intelligence-based operation in Pishin on the reported presence of terrorists. “During the operation, five Khawarij were apprehended and a large quantity of weapons, am­m­unition and explosives including three suicide vests were seized,” it said.

“Apprehended Kha­w­arij were involved in multiple terrorist attacks and were planning to target security forces as well as innocent civilians,” the ISPR highlighted.

In another operation, two Khawarij were killed during an exchange of fire with security forces in the Zhob district, it said. “In ensuing sanitisation of the area, weapons and ammunition were also recovered in a large quantity.”

The ISPR said that security forces of Pakistan remain steadfast in their commitment to eradicate terrorism from the country and protect innocent civilians from this menace.

President Asif Ali

Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the security forces for the successful operation, appreciating their professionalism in conducting operations against militants.

In their separate statements, the two leaders said the entire nation stands side by side with the security forces in foiling designs of the country’s foes and eradicating terrorism from Pakistani soil, Radio Pakistan reported.

President Zardari said security forces were fighting valiantly. “The entire nation stands with the security forces in the war against terrorism,” he said.

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti lauded the Levies force and supporting security agencies for their successful operations against militants associated with “Khawarij” in Zhob and Pishin.

Acknowledging efforts to restore peace, the CM announced a reward of Rs300,000 on behalf of the provincial government.

In his statement, CM Bugti praised the Levies for thwarting the nefarious plans of militants and commended the dedication of the forces involved.

Levies man martyred

Earlier on Friday night, a Levies official was martyred in an attack on a post in Kalat, officials said.

They explained that armed men riding a motorcycle opened fire at a checkpoint in Nachara union council, about 60km from Kalat town. As a result, Levies official Abdul Qayyum died on the spot, while two others sustained injuries.

Levies personnel quickly rushed to the site and shifted the body and the injured to the district hospital in Kalat.

Later, security forces launched a search operation in the area to locate the attackers.

Abdul Wahid Shahwani in Khuzdar also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2024