Attackers of Haideri killed in Mastung operation: ISPR

RAWALPINDI: The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Thursday that in the Mastung operation, the terrorists involved in the attack on Senate Deputy Chairman Abdul Ghafoor Haideri were also killed. 

The successful operation conducted by the security forces in Siplinji near Mastung on June 4, denied the establishment of any direct or indirect IS (Daesh) organised infrastructure in Balochistan or elsewhere in the country.

Director General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor said this here on Thursday while issuing details about the incident according to which a dozen terrorists were killed.

Based on actionable intelligence, he said security forces conducted an operation in Mastung from June 1-3. There were reports about the presence of 10-15 terrorists of a banned outfit Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Al-Almi (LeJA) hiding in caves near Splingi (Koh-i-Siah/Koh-i-Maran), 36 kilometers southeast of Mastung.

The said organisation was reportedly making efforts for establishing communication with IS (Daesh) and intended to facilitate the establishment of IS foothold in Balochistan, he said. Operation for physical clearance of target area, spread over 10 kilometres, started early morning on June 1 by landing of heliborne force, he said.

The operation continued for three days and the terrorists who were hiding in caves offered stiff resistance. Over 250-meter-long gorge with steep heights and multiple caves made the clearance operation difficult and challenging, he said.

The intelligence and security forces personnel fought valiantly to clear the hideout by June 3, Gen Asif said. During the exchange of fire, 12 hardcore terrorists, including two suicide bombers, were killed.

The suicide bomber used against Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri on May 12, was also sent by this group from the same hideout. In the operation, five security forces personnel, including two officers, got injured.

The security forces, during the operation, destroyed an Improvised Explosive Device making facility inside the cave and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition, which included 50 kilograms of explosives, three suicide jackets, 18 grenades, six rocket launchers, four light machine guns, 18 small machine guns, four sniper rifles, 38 communication sets and huge ammunition of various types. The successful operation by security forces, besides denying establishment of any direct or indirect IS organised infrastructure in Balochistan or elsewhere in Pakistan, also foiled terrorist incidents in Pakistan.

Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa appreciated the efforts of the Southern Command, intelligence agencies and the troops for conducting a successful operation. The ISPR issued photographs of the terrorists killed during the operation.