Seven security men martyred in Kalat check post attack

Seven security personnel were martyred while fighting off a terrorist attack on their check post in Kalat district before dawn on Saturday. At least six terrorists were also eliminated in the brazen attempted storming which came a week after a suicide bomber targeted passengers – including servicemen – waiting to board a train at the Quetta railway station.

According to the military's media wing, the terrorists attempted to attack the check post in the Shah-e-Mardan area of Kalat on the night between Nov 15 and 16. "Own troops fought gallantly as a result of which six terrorists were sent to hell, while four terrorists were injured," the ISPR added in a statement. "However, during intense exchange of fire, seven brave sons of soil, having fought gallantly, embraced shahadat (martyrdom)."

A sanitisation operation is underway to eliminate any terrorist found in the area, according to the ISPR statement. "The security forces of Pakistan, in step with the nation, remain determined to thwart attempts at sabotaging peace, stability and progress of Balochistan, and such sacrifices of our soldiers further strengthen our resolve."

The outlawed terrorist group, Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), claimed responsibility for the attack in an email sent to a Reuters reporter. The check post is located some 180 kimoletres south of Quetta. The group has stepped up terrorist attacks recently, claiming the November 9 suicide bombing that targeted passengers, including army men, at the Quetta railway station minutes before they were due to board a train to return home for vacations.

The security situation remains volatile in Balochistan where terrorists frequently carry out attacks. Pakistani officials say that foreign hostile agencies are stoking terrorism in the province in an attempt to destabilise Pakistan. A senior Indian intelligence officer, Kulbhushan Jadhav, was arrested in Balochistan in 2016 who later confessed to New Delhi's involvement in fuelling terrorism in Pakistan.

"Terrorism by violent non-state actors and state-sponsored entities remains a significant global challenge," army chief General Asim Munir said while speaking at a special ceremony of the "Margalla Dialogue 2024" organised by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) on Friday. He reiterated Pakistan's unwavering resolve in the fight against terrorism, saying that terrorism remains a shared challenge for all humanity at the global level.

The army chief also warned against the perils of unfettered free speech, saying that although technology has played a crucial role in disseminating information, it has also been instrumental in a rapid spread of misinformation and disinformation which is detrimental to social values.

Terrorist groups are increasingly using cyberspace to disseminate their propaganda and to recruit the disillusioned youth. A rogue policeman, arrested last week for facilitating the 2023 Peshawar Police Line bombing, has confessed that he was recruited by terrorist via Facebook. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority announced on Friday that mobile internet services in parts of Balochistan were suspended to "ensure public safety".

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the latest Kalat "terrorist attack", stating that such cowardly acts cannot deter the country's resolve. In a post on X today, premier Shehbaz sent his "heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families".

He said that immediate action would be taken against the perpetrators of the attack. "Such cowardly acts cannot deter our resolve - together with our nation and security forces, we will eliminate this menace," he said.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also denounced the attack and expressed his profound sorrow over the martyrdom of seven security personnel. He paid tribute to the martyred personnel, honouring their ultimate sacrifice for the homeland, according to a Bilawal House statement. "The brave soldiers who laid down their lives for the defence of our motherland will forever be etched in the hearts of the nation."

Reaffirming the PPP's stance against terrorism, the PPP chairman said, "Such cowardly acts cannot weaken our resolve to uproot terrorism from its very roots."

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, while condemning the attack, also paid glowing tribute to the martyrs.

(With additional input from Reuters)