- Security forces carried out counterterror operation in southwestern Kalat district on Sept. 2, says military
- Says cache of ammunitions and improvised explosive devices recovered from the slain militants destroyed
ISLAMABAD: Security forces killed 12 “Indian-sponsored terrorists” during an intelligence-based operation in the southwestern Kalat district, the Pakistani military’s media wing said on Friday, vowing to eliminate foreign sponsored militants from the country.
The operation took place in Balochistan’s Kalat district on Sept. 2, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, said in a statement. It added the security forces carried out the operation against “Fitna al Hindustan,” a term the military uses for separatist Baloch militants, based on reports of the presence of militants in the area.
“During the conduct of operation, terrorists’ hideout was identified, monitored and busted through prompt surgical action by own forces killing all twelve Indian sponsored terrorists,” the ISPR said in a statement.
It added that a cache of ammunitions and improvised explosive devices were also destroyed by security forces on the site.
“Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian-sponsored terrorist found in the area,” the military’s media wing said.
Pakistan’s military and civilian government accuse India of sponsoring militants based in Balochistan and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces. India denies the allegations.
Islamabad also accuses Afghanistan of facilitating militant attacks against Pakistani law enforcers by providing “terrorist” groups sanctuaries on its soil. Kabul denies the allegations.
Balochistan has been the site of a low-lying insurgency since decades where ethnic Baloch militants frequently attack law enforcers and citizens. These militant groups blame Pakistan’s government and military for denying locals a share in the province’s mineral wealth.
The province is Pakistan’s poorest one by almost all social and economic indicators. The military and federal government reject allegations leveled by separatist militants of usurping the province’s mineral wealth, pointing to several health and education projects that they say have been launched to uplift the poor.
