According to Bugti, the search operation for militants was carried out in response to attacks against important government installations and security forces. PHOTO: ONLINE
Soldiers of the Frontier Corps (FC) Balochistan killed at least 30 suspected militants in Sui on Thursday as part of a fresh offensive to quell the long-running insurgency in the province.
“The forces surrounded the militants early morning on Thursday. It culminated with the killing of 30 militants and arrest of three others,” Balochistan Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti told reporters at a news conference in Quetta.
He said the militants were members of the Baloch Republican Army (BRA) and two main commanders were also killed in the operation.
“Two of the BRA commanders were also killed during the action. The forces also freed two local Bugti men kidnapped for ransom by the militants,” Bugti said, adding that one paramilitary soldier was killed and eight others wounded in the action.
The death toll could not be independently confirmed.
The minister said the forces also destroyed eight militant camps during the operation and recovered 350 kilogrammes of explosives, 50 anti-personnel mines and other arms and ammunition.
According to Bugti, the search operation for militants was carried out in response to attacks against important government installations and security forces. He said security personnel launched to Balochistan, they said. The militants were also suspected to be involved in other sabotage activities, such as blowing up railway tracks, power pylons and gas pipelines, in Balochistan, they added.
According to sources, documents and other intelligence material recovered during the operation also suggested that outlawed organisations and criminals in Balochistan were receiving help from ‘foreign agencies’. “The government will go after the miscreants and will continue operations to protect life and property of the people,” Bugti said at the news conference. He said that while insurgents kept on changing the locations of their camps and that it was difficult to ascertain their exact number, ‘the government would still act against anyone who challenged its writ and make no concessions’.
Meanwhile, FC Balochistan Inspector General Maj-Gen Muhammad Ejaz Shahid appreciated the successful operation and said the force would never allow those involved in destabilising the country to succeed.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 6th, 2014.
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@Ch. Allah Daad: The FC has done a great job of routing the anti state criminals funded by foreign agencies. You forget most Baluch and all Pashtun in Baluchistan are pro Pakistani. A few tribal leaders on the Indian payroll can create a nuisance but it does not change reality.
Most of the times, figures given by FC are incorrect and fabricated. If these figures are true, then Baluch people are one step nearer to their independence.
very well done operation FC.Salute to your brave and courageous act against miscreants and traitors.
We need more education in Balochistan along with infrastructure development etc. Baloch are great and honest people. Lahori
If we do more development in Balochistan the insurgency will die down itself slowly.. But eventually. Education, healthcare, infrastructure etc..
Why not no such action against Taliban ?
Well done, Jawans! We are proud of you.
This is the kind of operation that Akbar Bugti was killed in. So why is Musharraf under a trial? Was that not establishing the writ of the govt? Or will we now call these killed militants also shaheed?