21 terrorists killed, 4 arrested in Balochistan

QUETTA: At least 21 suspected terrorists have been killed in three operations of security forces and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Quetta, Sherani and Kech districts of Balochistan, while security forces arrested four alleged terrorists from Khuzdar on Wednesday.

The personnel of the CTD conducted an operation on a tip-off about the presence of terrorists in the Aghbarg area, a locality on the outskirts of the provincial capital Quetta, in the early hours.

A spokesman for the CTD Balochistan said here that the CTD team cordoned off the area in Aghbarg, on which the armed terrorists started firing on the team. The CTD personnel immediately reacted and returned fire in retaliation after taking positions.

“Heavy exchange of fire continued between the armed terrorists and CTD officials for an hour in which the terrorists used automatic weapons. As a result of the heavy gun battle, 10 terrorists were killed on the spot,” the spokesman said and added that two CTD men received injuries and were shifted to hospital.

Huge quantities of arms and ammunition, including explosives and other equipment, were recovered from the terrorists killed in the operation. The statement of the spokesman said that the terrorists killed in the operation belonged to banned outfits who were involved in attacking security forces and target killings.

The bodies of the slain terrorists were shifted to hospital for identification. However, none of the terrorists could be identified. The spokesman said that further investigation is in progress. In another operation conducted by the security forces in Sherani district, eight terrorists were killed.

Officials said here on Wednesday that security forces conducted an operation in the mountainous area of Mughal Kot in Sherani district of Balochistan on intelligence-based information about the camp of the Fitna-ul-Khawarij. “Forces attacked their camp in the rugged mountainous region of Mughal Kot area and killed eight terrorists,” officials said.

They said that a huge quantity of the latest weapons, ammunition and other equipment was recovered from the camp. “All killed terrorists belonged to banned outfits,” officials said. Security forces arrested four terrorists in an operation in Khuzdar area, ISPR said. The military media wing, ISPR, in a statement said here on Wednesday that security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in Khuzdar district of Balochistan on reported presence of terrorists belonging to Indian proxy, Fitna al Hindustan.

It said that during the conduct of the operation, own forces apprehended four terrorists trying to flee cowardly by disguising themselves in women’s attire. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the terrorists, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area. It further said that in another intelligence-based operation (IBO) conducted in Kech district, a terrorist hideout was busted and three Indian-sponsored terrorists of Fitna al Hindustan were successfully neutralized.

Weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the killed Khawarij and terrorists, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities.

Security forces of Pakistan are determined to eliminate the menace of Indian-sponsored terrorism from the country and reaffirm the nation’s unwavering resolve to bring the perpetrators of terrorism and their facilitators to justice.