The announcement on Sunday followed the attacks, which began early Saturday at several locations across southwestern Balochistan and killed 31 civilians including five women and 17 members of the security forces

Pakistani security forces killed at least 145 fighters in the troubled province of Balochistan during a manhunt launched after coordinated gun and bomb attacks that left nearly 50 people dead.

The announcement on Sunday followed the attacks, which began early Saturday at several locations across southwestern Balochistan and killed 31 civilians including five women and 17 members of the security forces.

The assaults, claimed by the banned separatist group Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), led authorities to impose months-long security restrictions across the province, including bans on public gatherings and demonstrations, limits on traffic movement, and a prohibition on face coverings in public spaces, according to the Dawn newspaper.

Speaking in Quetta, provincial Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said troops and police responded quickly, killing 145 members of what the government calls “Fitna al-Hindustan,” a term it uses for the BLA.

He added that this was the highest number of fighters killed in decades.

“The bodies of these 145 terrorists are in our custody, and some of them are Afghan nationals,” Bugti said, claiming the “Indian-backed militants” had planned to take hostages but failed to reach the city centre.

Pakistan’s military said 92 fighters were killed on Saturday and another 41 on Friday. Bugti added that intelligence reports had warned of an impending operation, prompting pre-emptive measures a day earlier.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said two of the attackers were women and noted that recent violence has increasingly targeted civilians, labourers and low-income communities.

The United States condemned the attacks, with its chargé d’affaires, Natalie Baker, describing them as acts of terrorism and saying Washington stood in solidarity with Pakistan.

The BLA is designated a foreign terrorist organisation by the US.
Pakistan has also faced periodic attacks by armed groups elsewhere in the country, including factions linked to the Pakistan Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Join us on our WhatsApp Platform @KOIKIMEDIA NEWS YOUR

Koikimedia Bringing the World 🌎 Closer to Your Doorstep