Nine Militants Killed in Separate Balochistan Security Operations
QUETTA, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: Nine suspected militants were reported killed in separate security operations in Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Monday, including a militant commander identified as Naqib in Mastung district, according to security and police sources.
In Mastung, security forces targeted a vehicle reportedly carrying members of a group Pakistani authorities refer to as “Fitna al-Hindustan.” Security sources said a quadcopter was used to strike the vehicle, killing three militants, including commander Naqib, and destroying the vehicle.
Multiple Pakistani news organizations independently reported the Mastung operation on Monday, citing security sources. State-run Radio Pakistan also reported that three militants, including Naqib, had been killed.
In a separate development in Pishin district, police, the Anti-Terrorist Force and the Counter Terrorism Department conducted a joint operation in Saranan and surrounding areas following information about the presence of members of a banned organisation.
Express reported that six alleged militants were killed during an exchange of fire. Five suspects were also detained. The report contained differing casualty details for security personnel: police sources said one officer was injured, while a CTD spokesperson said four CTD personnel sustained injuries.
Weapons and ammunition were reportedly recovered from the suspects in the Pishin operation, while the identities of those killed had not been established at the time of the report.
The latest operations come amid intensified counterterrorism activity across Balochistan. Earlier this month, the military’s media wing, ISPR, said security forces had killed 48 militants in multiple operations across the province over a 48-to-72-hour period, including operations in Mastung, Quetta, Kalat and Sibi.
