At least 11 security personnel and 19 separatists were killed in clashes between security forces and armed individuals over a highway blockade in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province. Many more were injured in the incident.
Turkish news agency Anadolu Agency reported the information on Wednesday (July 8), citing security sources. The report said armed individuals blocked a key highway in Balochistan province, prompting a security operation, during which clashes broke out between the two sides.
Security sources claim several more separatists were injured in the operation. The incident follows a recent resurgence of separatist attacks in the province in recent months. It came just a day after nine police officers were killed in clashes with separatists in Ziarat district.
Balochistan, rich in mineral resources and home to a key route of the valuable China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), has long been troubled by separatist militant activity.
At least nine police officers were killed in a militant attack on a police post in Ziarat district, Balochistan province, Pakistan, with two of those killed serving as officers-in-charge of local police stations. Pakistani officials disclosed this information on Tuesday (July 7).
Shahid Rind, adviser to the Balochistan chief minister on media and political affairs, said 15 Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants were killed in a joint clearance operation launched after the attack, according to Dawn News.
Local sources said a group of armed attackers stormed the police post late at night. Police exchanged fire with the militants for some time before the attackers took control of the post.
Ziarat Deputy Commissioner Abdul Quddus Achakzai said the incident occurred in the Mangi Dam area. He said five police personnel remain unaccounted for, and additional police have been deployed to search for them, with the operation ongoing.
Rind said the attack killed two officers-in-charge from Mangi and Kawas police stations and a head constable in charge of the counter-terrorism unit. The bodies were taken to the district headquarters hospital to complete legal formalities.
He added that the joint clearance operation launched after the attack has concluded, killing 15 militants. He said the militants had to pay a “heavy price” for attempting to disrupt peace in Balochistan.
Meanwhile, local residents blocked the Quetta-Ziarat highway in protest of the attack, halting traffic on the Quetta-Zhob highway.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the attack and paid tribute to the police officers killed on duty. In a statement, he said all conspiracies to disrupt peace and stability in Balochistan would be foiled, and that the operation against terrorism would continue at full strength.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the attack and paid tribute to the slain officers. Speaking to state broadcaster PTV, he said the blood of the martyrs would be avenged and no opportunity would be given to disrupt peace in Balochistan, adding that the operation would continue until the enemy was completely eliminated.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report