'Naushki, Panjgur attackers were in direct contact with handlers in Afghanistan'

Commandant Frontier Corps (FC) Balochistan on Sunday revealed that the terrorists involved in Panjgur and Naushki attacks were in direct contact with their handlers in Afghanistan.

He said this while briefing a delegation including Senate Chairman Muhammad Sadiq Sanjarani, Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Abdul Quddos Bizenjo and other provincial ministers.

The delegation visited FC Headquarters and paid tribute to the martyrs and soldiers who thwarted recent terrorist attacks at two different FC camps in the province.

Read more: Security forces complete clearance operations

Four security personnel including an officer were martyred while nine terrorists were killed in the incident, he added.

The visiting dignitaries extended felicitations to the FC on the successful operation. They also paid a visit to Martyrs’ Memorial and prayed for the martyrs, said the official sources in the Chief Minister Secretariat.

Chief Minister Bizenjo, Chairman Senate Sanjarani and provincial ministers paid homage to the security personnel who bravely fought against the terrorists.

Also read: Forces repulse two terror attacks in Balochistan

Chief Minister and Chairman Senate also eulogised the sacrifices and efforts of FC Balochistan for the protection of the motherland.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said: “We stand with our security forces. The enemy cannot harm us in the presence of our brave security forces.”

On Saturday, the security forces completed the clearance operations which were launched after terrorists attacked their camps in Panjgur and Naushki districts, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations.

Twenty terrorists were killed during the operations while nine security personnel embraced martyrdom, the military’s media wing added.

“Both [of the] attacks were repulsed successfully by the prompt response from troops at both locations,” the ISPR said.

In Naushki, the ISPR said, nine terrorists were killed while four security forces personnel, including an officer, embraced shahadat during the “shootout with terrorists while repulsing the attack”.

In Panjgur, the security forces had repulsed the terrorist attack after an intense exchange of fire during which some terrorists fled the area. “The security forces carried out a clearance operation to hunt down the hiding terrorists in the vicinity.”

The military added that four fleeing terrorists were killed while as many terrorists were encircled the next day by the security forces. “All encircled terrorists were killed in today’s (Saturday) operation as they failed to surrender.”

Five soldiers including a junior commissioned officer, it said, “embraced shahadat while six soldiers have been injured during the follow-up operations in Panjgur lasting 72 hours”.

Further, the ISPR added that three terrorists linked to these attacks were also killed including two high-value targets in the Balgatar area of Kech district on Friday in the follow-up clearance operation conducted on a makeshift terrorist hideout.

“Our security forces stand firm and resolutely committed to eliminating the menace of terrorism from our soil no matter what the cost.”