Quetta: Security forces killed three terrorists, including a commander, during an operation in Balochistan’s Mastung district, state media reported on Saturday, citing security sources.
According to reports by the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) and Radio Pakistan, troops targeted a vehicle carrying members of Fitna-al-Hindustan during the operation. The vehicle was struck using a quadcopter in what the reports described as a precision strike.
Three terrorists, including a commander, were killed in the strike and the vehicle was destroyed, the reports said.
The operation comes amid an increase in terrorist activity in Balochistan, with security forces carrying out a series of operations against militant groups across the province.
According to a monthly assessment by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, the number of terrorist attacks in Balochistan rose from 83 in July to 89 in August, an increase of seven per cent.
On the night of Aug 31 and Sept 1, members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan launched a coordinated attack on the Customs House at Ziarat Cross on the N-50 National Highway in Pishin district.
Security forces killed 10 terrorists in the ensuing exchange of fire, while six personnel, including two officers, were martyred according to the military’s media affairs wing.
On Aug 31, security forces also killed 11 terrorists belonging to Fitna-al-Hindustan after they established an illegal checkpoint on the N-40 Quetta-Taftan highway in the Nokcha area of Chagai district, where they were allegedly involved in extortion.
On Sept 2, 12 terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based operation in Kalat district.
In separate intelligence-based operations in Kharan and Washuk districts, security forces later killed 11 terrorists and recovered 2.9 tonnes of explosives, according to the reports.
The Inter-Services Public Relations said on Sept 4 that 36 terrorists had been killed during multiple operations in Mastung, Quetta, Kalat and Sibi districts. The operations also prevented an attack on a police station in the Bhag area of Sibi.
The latest operation in Mastung brings another reported militant death toll from security operations in the province as authorities continue counter-terrorism operations against armed groups.
