41 including security personnel martyred in Balochistan terror attacks, 21 terrorists eliminated

QUETTA: 14 security personnel including a police sub-inspector and four Levies personnel among 41 people were martyred in Balochistan terror attacks on Monday whereas 21 terrorists were killed in different counter-terrorism activities.

The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a news release said that as many as 14 valiant sons of the soil including soldiers and personnel from the Security Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) embraced martyrdom while eliminating 21 terrorists in different counter-terrorism activities, initiated promptly after the terrorists attempted to conduct numerous heinous activities in different areas of Balochistan on the night of August 25th and 26th.

“On behest of inimical and hostile forces, these cowardly acts of terrorism were aimed at disrupting the peaceful environment and development of Balochistan by targeting mainly the innocent civilians, especially in Musa Khel, Kalat and Lasbela Districts. Resultantly, numerous innocent civilians embraced shahadat,” the ISPR said.

The ISPR informed that the terrorists had stopped a bus in general area Rara Sham, in Musa Khel District and maliciously targeted innocent citizens, working in Balochistan to earn their livelihood.

“Security Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies immediately responded and successfully thwarted the evil design of terrorists and sent twenty-one terrorists to hell in ensuing clearance operations, ensuring security and protection of local populace,” it said.

However, during the conduct of operations, fourteen brave sons of soil including ten Security Forces soldiers and four personnel of Law Enforcement Agencies, having fought gallantly, rendered the ultimate sacrifice and embraced shahadat (martyrdom).

The ISPR said: “Sanitization operations are being conducted and the instigators, perpetrators, facilitators and abettors of these heinous and cowardly acts, targeting innocent civilians, will be brought to justice.”

“Security forces and Law Enforcement Agencies of Pakistan in step with the nation, remain determined to thwart attempts at sabotaging peace, stability and progress of Balochistan and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve.”

Earlier in Musakhel area of Balochistan, terrorists killed 23 travellers after offloading them from trucks and buses earlier in the morning.

SP Musakhel, Ayub Achakzai said armed terrorists intercepted the vehicles on the inter-provincial highway and forced some passengers offloaded in the Rarasham area of the district.

He said the terrorists also set 10 vehicles on fire. He said that police and Levies arrived at the scene and shifted the bodies to the hospital.

The authorities have begun further investigations into the incident.

In Kalat, eight individuals, including Levies personnel, were martyred in separate incidents on Sunday night, police confirmed.

Kalat Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dostin Dashti stated that the deceased included a police sub-inspector, four Levies personnel, and three civilians.

In another incident, Kalat Assistant Commissioner Aftab Ahmed and a Levies officer sustained injuries during a gunfight when unidentified assailants attacked a check post.

SSP Kalat explained that the gunmen opened fire on the post, leading to a shootout with Levies personnel. The injured officers were transported to a nearby medical facility, and Kalat Commissioner Naeem Bazai later confirmed that Ahmed’s condition was stable.

The police said that an exchange of gunfire between armed men and security forces persisted on Kalat’s national highway and within the city since Sunday night.

A blast in Bolan, Balochistan, killed at least one person and injured several others, leading to the suspension of train services. The explosion occurred in the Dozan area of Bolan, destroying a railway bridge and halting train movements from Karachi and Rawalpindi to Quetta and other regions.

Additionally, armed individuals blocked the Quetta section of the National Highway, further disrupting transportation.

Security forces and law enforcement agencies responded effectively to these attacks.

Security forces said that terrorists launched attacks at multiple locations in Balochistan on the night of August 24-25. In response, the forces killed 12 terrorists and injured several others, with operations continuing until all terrorists are neutralized, according to security sources.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the terrorist attack on a passenger bus in Musakhel. They expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. Both leaders offered prayers for the departed souls and strength for the bereaved families.

President Zardari condemned the killing of innocent people, equating it to the killing of all humanity, and reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to fighting terrorism. Prime Minister Shehbaz directed law enforcement agencies to conduct an immediate investigation and instructed authorities to support the victims’ families and provide urgent medical care to the injured.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti also condemned the terrorist incidents, expressing sympathy and condolences to the victims’ families. He vowed that the terrorists and their facilitators would face an exemplary end and assured that the Balochistan government would relentlessly pursue the culprits.