“The operation is targeted at banned militant groups Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and United Baloch Army (UBA),” said the Frontier Corps spokesperson. The two separatist groups have claimed responsibility for several bomb and gun attacks on security forces in and around Quetta.
“Militants from these groups have been involved in attacks on railway tracks, gas pipelines and incidents of kidnapping in the area,” the spokesperson said. “There are several hideouts of militants in the mountainous areas of Bolan.”
He added that fighting was still ongoing and the militants were using automatic weapons, rocket launchers and hand grenades.
The spokesperson claimed that several terrorists have been killed and injured in the operation. “It is a large-scale operation. The FC is using helicopters for supplies,” he added.
The spokesperson said the operation was started on the instructions of the Balochistan government. “Peace will be maintained in Balochistan at any cost,” said IGFC Balochistan Maj Gen Ejaz Shahid.
The FC spokesperson further claimed that the terrorists were planning attacks on passenger coaches on November 20—the death anniversary of Balaach Marri, BLA leader and son of Baloch chieftain Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri.
Elsewhere in the province, armed men stormed a police check post in suburban Quetta Friday morning, killing a police constable and seizing official weapons. Ten to 12 armed men attacked the check post in the Killi Nasiran area near Hanna Bypass on the outskirts of Quetta, in the early hours of Friday.
“The assailants besieged the check post manned by four policemen. One of the policemen refused to lay down arms and challenged the attackers. He was subsequently shot dead,” a police official told Express Tribune.
The gunmen took away two SMGs from the check post. After receiving reinforcements, the police launched a search operation in the area. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
Two gunmen also opened fire at a Balochistan Levies checkpost in Pishin on Friday, officials said. The subsequent clash left one Levies official and one attacker dead, and another official injured, according to them. The second attacker was arrested by the Levies troops following a brief chase, the officials added.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 15th, 2014.
COMMENTS (4)
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@Ahmar Mustikhan: are you a separatist insurgent, terrorist sympathiser ?
Balochistan belongs to Baloch. Pakistan army must withdraw.
well back to square one.....Musharraf started it and these selfish democratic thugs failed him by opposition.
Now the same thugs are going after them....ihowever the action is due against these Indian backed terrorist......If the portion of Sardargi influenced/ignorant thugs do not want to live peacefully than action should be taken.....There are only two solutions....either Pakistan give in to the minority demand (which is not gonna happen) .... Or the thugs understand (by carrots or sticks) to join the main stream and stop dying for Sardars cause (which should and will happen...Inshallah)
Long due action. Deal them with iron hand.