Major martyred, four terrorists killed in Balochistan

A Pakistan Army officer was martyred in an improvised explosive device (IED) attack in Balochistan’s Gwadar district, while security forces killed four terrorists during intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in the province, the military’s media wing said on Monday.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces are conducting a series of operations in Shadi Kaur and Pasni in Gwadar, as well as Jattakabad in Kalat district, following reports about the presence of terrorist hideouts in these areas.

During an intelligence-based operation in Jattakabad on October 18, security forces killed four terrorists. A large quantity of weapons and ammunition was also recovered from the site, the ISPR said.

In a separate development, security forces carried out clearance operations in Shadi Kaur and Pasni. During one of these operations, Major Wajahat Waheed, 34, embraced martyrdom when an improvised explosive device struck the lead security team. The officer belonged to Lahore.

The military said sanitisation operations were continuing to locate and eliminate any remaining terrorists in the affected areas. It reaffirmed that the counterterrorism campaign under the vision of Azm-e-Istehkam would continue at full pace.

The ISPR also reiterated the commitment of security forces and law enforcement agencies to eliminating foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country.

The latest operations come amid a renewed push against militant groups in Balochistan, which has witnessed a rise in terrorist incidents in recent months.

On Sunday, security forces killed eight terrorists in intelligence-based operations conducted in the Quetta, Nushki and Khuzdar districts. The military described the suspects as being sponsored by India.

Earlier, during an operation on the night of October 12 and 13, security forces raided a suspected terrorist hideout in Washuk district and killed five militants.

Provincial government officials have also reported several arrests during recent intelligence-based operations across Balochistan. Those detained included six alleged members of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), two suspected female suicide bombers and two commanders of a banned organisation.

Officials said around 90 arrested suspects were being held at a designated centre, where investigations and legal proceedings were under way.

Earlier this month, security forces also killed five terrorists in Mastung district.

Data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies showed that terrorist attacks in Balochistan increased from 83 in July to 89 in August, marking a rise of around seven per cent. The report identified Balochistan as the province most affected by terrorism during the period.