Daesh headquarters in Pakistan destroyed

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security forces destroyed the headquarters of militant Islamic State group in the massive offensive conducted against the extremist militia that lasted for almost a week.  Special commandos participated in the operation to destroy a several kilometer long cave complex being used by militants of the Islamic State and affiliated Lashkar-e-Jhangvi group to plan attacks across Pakistan.

At least a dozen IS commanders were killed and while some others were captured after being forced to surrender in the operation that involved military commandos and personnel from the Frontier Constabulary and local police.   

“It took us some five days to tear down the ‘headquarters of Daesh’ in Mastung, Balochistan,” a senior official privy to this operation confided to this correspondent.  

However, Ejaz Bangulzai, who was controlling the operation of Daesh in Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab (near the Balochistan border) is believed to have escaped the strike moments before the Pakistan military launched a full-fledged operation in Mastung last week, an official who is not authorised to talk to the media, revealed on Wednesday.

Farooq Bangulzai, the brother of Ejaz Bangulzai, was facilitating this network from Nangarhar, a province of Afghanistan. Farooq, before joining ranks of Daesh in Afghanistan, was heading the Balochistan chapter of LeJ a year back.

A secret operation, which was directly overseen by Lt General Amir Riaz, Commander Southern Command, was completed on Tuesday where 11 local commanders of Daesh and LeJ were killed and one of them who was perhaps heading the Sindh chapter of Daesh surrendered. The operation was conducted in Marao, Spilonji, Kabo, areas of Dasht, including Koh-e-Maran of Mangicher and Koh-e-Siah, an area further towards Johan of Mangocher in Mastung. 

During the operation, more than a dozen security personnel also sustained injuries, including Lt Col Sajid, Major Faheem and Major Asim. Soldiers Naeem and Nobahar also sustained splinter injuries on their right arms but their condition is stable. All injured were shifted to the CMH, Quetta.

Meanwhile, some officials also believed that the kingpins of Daesh Sindh chapter Hafeez Brohi and Abdullah Brohi were also in the cave during the raid.  Spokesperson of the Balochistan government Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar confirmed that the network of Daesh-backed militants was destroyed by forces. He was, however, not sure about the identity of the commanders killed in the operation and was quick to say that the military would brief the media on this major development soon.