RAWALPINDI: Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhary said that security forces and law enforcement agencies killed 54 militants following three major attacks in the southwestern province of Balochistan over the past four days, during which 42 security personnel were killed.
At a news conference, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, said the attacks targeted civilians, police and security forces in separate incidents across the province.
According to Chaudhry, the first attack occurred near the Mangi Dam pumping station outside Quetta, where four civilians and nine police personnel were martyred. He said security forces responded by killing 15 militants.
He said a second attack in Ziarat left 18 police personnel martyred, while security forces killed additional militants during ongoing operations in the area.
The third attack targeted a security convoy, martyring 10 security personnel. Chaudhry said 14 militants were killed in the subsequent military response.
The military said operations were also carried out in Kharan and Dalbandin, where additional militants were killed.
Chaudhry accused India of supporting militant groups involved in the attacks and alleged that Afghan nationals made up a majority of the attackers.
He also accused Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities of providing support to militant groups operating against Pakistan. India has repeatedly denied Pakistani allegations that it backs militant activity inside the country.
He said operations against militants and their alleged facilitators would continue and vowed that Pakistan’s armed forces would pursue those responsible.