21 terrorists killed in Balochistan operations after deadly attacks: ISPR

Dozens of civilians and 14 security personnel among those martyred in Muskhel, Kalat and Lasbela

At least 21 terrorists were killed in clearance operations across Balochistan after a series of deadly attacks on civilians and security forces, the military said on Monday.

The attacks, which took place on Sunday night, resulted in the deaths of 14 security personnel, including ten soldiers and four law enforcement officers.

"Fourteen brave sons of the soil, including ten soldiers of the security forces and four law enforcement personnel, embraced shahadat after fighting gallantly," the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

The ISPR further stated that the attacks were conducted on the behest of "inimical and hostile forces" aiming to disrupt the peace and development of Balochistan. The attacks were focused on targeting innocent civilians, particularly in Musakhel, Kalat, and Lasbela districts, where numerous civilians lost their lives.

In Musakhel district, terrorists intercepted a bus in the Rara Sham area and targeted innocent citizens who were working in Balochistan to earn their livelihood.

The militants forced the passengers off the vehicles and shot them after checking their identity cards, according to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ayub Achakzai.

Twenty-three people, mostly from Punjab province, were killed in the Musakhel massacre. The assailants set fire to 35 vehicles before fleeing the scene.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attacks in a statement emailed to journalists, alleging it was responsible for numerous other attacks, including one on a major paramilitary base. However, this claim has not been independently verified.

Security forces and law enforcement agencies immediately responded to the Musakhel incident, launching clearance operations that resulted in the deaths of 21 terrorists.

"The evil design of the terrorists was successfully thwarted," the ISPR stated. "Sanitisation operations are being conducted, and the instigators, perpetrators, facilitators, and abettors of these heinous and cowardly acts will be brought to justice."

In Kalat, ten people, including police and Balochistan Levies personnel, were killed in a gun attack, police confirmed. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dostin Dashti reported that the victims included a police sub-inspector, four Levies personnel, and five civilians.

The attack in Kalat began along the national highway and continued into the city. The attackers fled the scene, prompting security forces to launch clearance operations.

Kalat Assistant Commissioner Aftab Ahmed and a Levies officer were injured and taken to a hospital; their conditions are reported to be stable.

Condemnations poured in from government officials. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the terrorist attack on the passenger bus in Musakhel. "The brutal killing of innocent people is an attack on humanity," President Zardari said, emphasising that terrorists are enemies of both Pakistan and humanity. He called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.

Prime Minister Sharif directed local authorities to support the bereaved families and ensure immediate medical assistance for the injured. "Those responsible will face severe punishment," he stated, reiterating that any form of terrorism is unacceptable in Pakistan. Both leaders reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to eradicating terrorism.

"The entire nation stands with the security forces in the fight against terrorism," Sharif said, adding that the terrorists’ attempts to disrupt peace in Pakistan would ultimately fail. "We remain determined to thwart any efforts to destabilise Balochistan," the prime minister affirmed.

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti expressed his condolences to the victims' families and vowed that neither the attackers nor their facilitators would escape justice. "The government will relentlessly pursue those responsible," Bugti stated.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar also condemned the attack, denouncing the targeting of innocent passengers. "Those responsible, including their facilitators, will be brought to justice," he declared, expressing his heartfelt sympathies to the affected families.

Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, as well as Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, joined in condemning the attack, expressing sorrow over the loss of twenty-three passengers who were killed during the attack.