ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s security forces killed two militants in an intelligence-based operation in the country’s southwestern Balochistan province, said the army’s media wing, ISPR, in a statement issued on Saturday.
The operation was carried out in the Kech district on the night of October 6 and led to a heavy exchange of fire that resulted in the death of the two militants.
Balochistan shares a porous border with Iran and Afghanistan and has long been a battleground for a low-level insurgency. Baloch nationalists argue they are fighting against the unfair extraction of the province’s resources by the federal government, an accusation Islamabad denies.
“The killed terrorists had been actively involved in multiple terrorist activities against the law enforcement agencies,” the ISPR informed.
It added that a large quantity of equipment and explosives had been recovered from them in the wake of the operation.
The ISPR did not name the group of the militants, though there are a number of armed factions operating in the province where Pakistan and China are jointly undertaking infrastructure development and regional connectivity projects.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant violence in recent days.
Balochistan also experienced a major suicide attack targeting a religious congregation in Mastung last month that killed nearly 60 people.
Pakistan’s security forces kill two militants in southwestern Balochistan
https://arab.news/p9jyg
Pakistan’s security forces kill two militants in southwestern Balochistan
- The ISPR says a large quantity of equipment and explosives were recovered from the dead militants
- The security forces carried out intelligence-based operation in Kech that led to a heavy exchange of fire
Pakistan joins 22 Muslim states, OIC to condemn Israeli FM’s visit to Somaliland
- Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar visited breakaway African region of Somaliland on January 6
- Muslim states urge Israel to withdraw Somaliland recognition, respect Somalia’s sovereignty
ISLAMABAD: A joint statement by Pakistan, 22 other Muslim states and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Thursday condemned Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar’s recent visit to Somaliland as a violation of the African nation’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Saar’s visit to Somaliland capital Hargeisa on Jan. 6 followed Israel’s move last month to recognize Somaliland, a breakaway region from Somalia, as an independent country. The move drew a sharp reaction from Muslim states, including Pakistan, who said it was in contravention of the UN Charter and international norms.
Several international news outlets months earlier reported that Israel had contacted Somaliland over the potential resettlement of Palestinians forcibly removed from Gaza. Muslim countries fear Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region could be part of its plan to forcibly relocate Palestinians from Gaza to the region.
“The said visit constitutes a clear violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, and undermines established international norms and the United Nations Charter,” the joint statement shared by Pakistan’s foreign office, read.
The joint statement was issued on behalf of 23 Muslim states, including Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Palestine, Jordan, Kuwait, Türkiye, Oman and others.
It reaffirmed support for Somalia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, pointing out that respect for international law and non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states was necessary for regional stability.
“Encouraging secessionist agendas are unacceptable and risk exacerbating tensions in an already fragile region,” the statement said.
The joint statement urged Israel to revoke its recognition of the breakaway region.
“Israel should fully respect Somalia’s sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity and honor its obligations in compliance with international law, and demand immediate revocation of the recognition issued by Israel,” the statement read.
Somaliland broke away from Somalia unilaterally in 1991 as a civil war raged in the country. Somaliland has its own constitution, parliament and currency, a move that has infuriated Somalia over the years as it insists the region is part of its territory.
