Forces kill more suspected militants in Balochistan operation, officials say

ISLAMABAD: Security forces have killed four more suspected militants during the ongoing Operation Shaaban in Balochistan, bringing the total number of militants killed in the operation to 43, according to security sources.

The operation, launched in the aftermath of the attack on the Mangi Dam police station, is being carried out jointly by the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps (FC) and Balochistan Police. Security officials said the latest operations targeted suspected militant hideouts in rugged mountainous terrain.

Security sources also said an attack on a police station in the Khuzdar area was repelled earlier on Friday.

They reported that eight suspected militants were killed during the ground operation, while another five to six were believed to have been killed in helicopter-assisted operations.

According to the officials, 26 suspected militants had already been killed during operations conducted on July 6 and 7, as security forces tightened the cordon around militant positions in remote areas.

Security sources added that since July 5, a total of 75 suspected militants have been killed in Operation Shaaban and other intelligence-based operations across Balochistan.

President Asif Ali Zardari praised the security forces, saying hostile elements using proxy groups against Pakistan would not succeed in their objectives. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also commended the military and police, vowing that operations would continue until militant groups are eliminated and peace is restored in Balochistan.