KARACHI: Pakistani security forces have killed seven Pakistani Taliban militants in the southwestern Balochistan province, the military said on Friday.
The militants were killed during an intelligence-based operation in Balochistan’s Sherani district, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.
Weapons, ammunition and explosives were recovered from the deceased, who the ISPR said remained actively involved in “numerous terrorist activities.”
“Sanitization operation is being conducted to eliminate any other terrorist found in the area,” the ISPR said in a statement.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but most impoverished province, has been the site of a long-running insurgency that has intensified in recent months, with separatist militants frequently attacking security forces, government officials and installations and people from other provinces.
Apart from separatist outfits, religiously motivated groups such as the Pakistani Taliban and Daesh also maintain presence in the restive southwestern region that is home to major Chinese investments, including a deep seaport as well as gold and copper mines.
The Sherani operation comes days after security forces killed 13 militants in two separate operations in the province, Pakistan’s interior minister Mohsin Naqvi said, blaming what he called “Indian-sponsored terrorists” for unrest in the region.
In recent months, Islamabad has frequently accused Afghanistan of allowing the use of its soil and India of backing militant groups for attacks against Pakistan. Kabul and New Delhi both deny the allegation.
