ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior Pakistani officials condemned a deadly militant attack on a police checkpoint in Balochistan’s Ziarat district that killed nine police officers.
In separate statements, the leaders paid tribute to the slain officers and praised security forces for killing 15 suspected militants during a subsequent clearance operation.
President Zardari said Pakistan would thwart all attempts to undermine peace and stability in Balochistan.
“We will foil every conspiracy aimed at sabotaging peace and stability in Balochistan,” he said, adding that the state would continue operations against militants with full force.
Prime Minister Sharif said the government would continue its campaign against militants until they were eliminated.
“We will continue the fight against terrorists until they are defeated,” he said.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed condolences to the families of the slain officers and said the attack would not succeed in disrupting peace.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti vowed decisive action against those challenging the authority of the state.
“There is no place in Balochistan for those who take up arms against the state,” Bugti said, adding that those challenging the state’s writ would face defeat.
According to officials, gunmen attacked a police checkpoint in Ziarat, killing nine officers. Security forces later launched a clearance operation in which authorities said 15 suspected militants were killed. The official account of the operation has not been independently verified.