Eight militants killed, 15 arrested in Balochistan raids: Sarfraz Bugti

Iran says it has arrested a "terrorist cell" accused of killing teachers in Sarbaz, Sistan-Baluchistan

TEHRAN/ QUETTA: Security forces have killed at least eight militants, including a well known commander, and arrested 15 others belonging to banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) and Lashkar-e-Balochistan during search operations in the crisis hit province in the past week, provincial home minister Sarfraz Bugti said on Monday.

During a press conference on Monday, Bugti said that security forces had raided hideouts in Panjgur, Turbat, Quetta and Kalat, adding that two suicide bombers were among those killed.

“Sabzal Bugti, a well known commander of BRA, was among those killed. Two camps of Baloch militants were also destroyed,” he said, adding that, “Security forces have carried out three to four massive operations in Panjgur, Quetta and Kalat.”

These raids, he said, were carried out as part of the national action plan against terrorism. “The killed militants were involved in highway hold ups, kidnappings and carrying out attacks on security forces.”

The home minister said that he believes those who are called angry Baloch leaders, are actually terrorists.

“It has been decided to take stern action against the terrorists as the provincial government pursues the policy framed by the Interior Ministry.”

Responding to the question about the dumping of mutilated dead bodies in different parts of Balochistan, Bugti suggested that there is clear influence of Indian intelligence agency RAW and Afghan Intelligence NDS as most of the bodies could not be identified.

“The bodies of many Afghan nationals were found in Balochistan last year. Security forces have started investigation in this regard.”

Religious seminaries

As security forces raided stores selling hate material, the provincial home minister said there were around 2,000 registered religious seminaries in Balochistan and an unspecified number of unregistered seminaries.

He announced that the government is determined to take action against all armed groups and those organizations in Balochistan which are not affiliated with the Election Commission. “There is no room for those organizations or political parties which do not exist on the list of Pakistan Election Commission.”

He added that law enforcing agencies have started a campaign against the shops selling hate materials and literatures. “The raids have been carried out province-wide against the shopkeepers and dozens have been detained.”

Bugti said that they government was also addressing the issue of Afghan refugees, their repatriation and illegal immigrants.

Iran busts 'terror' cell in Sistan

Iran said on Monday that it had arrested a "terrorist cell" accused of killing teachers in a flashpoint border area with Pakistan and detained in a separate incident three Afghans planning to fight in Iraq.

An undisclosed number of cell members were caught near Sarbaz in the southeast, said a statement from Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) published by the official IRNA news agency.

The report did not give the date of the operation but said those detained had "committed a series of terrorist attacks, including the killing of teachers and Basij (militia volunteers)."

Sarbaz is in Sistan-Baluchistan province, which borders Pakistan and has a large Sunni community. It is plagued by violence involving Sunni extremists and drug smugglers.

Iran accuses members of the Sunni militant group Jaish-ul Adl (Army of Justice) of carrying out frequent raids.

Three Iranian soldiers were killed last week in Sistan-Baluchistan in an ambush by rebels who then reportedly fled into Pakistan.

In a separate incident, three Afghan nationals carrying explosives were arrested by border police close to Iraq, said the semi-official Fars news agency, considered close to the IRGC.

They crossed into Iran and intended to join the Islamic State group in Iraq when they were detained, Brigadier General Qassem Rezayee of the Border Force told Fars.