Pakistan Army Reports Killing of 216 Fighters in Balochistan Campaign

Pakistan’s Military Completes Week-Long Operation in Balochistan Province

A week-long security operation in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province has concluded, with the military claiming to have killed 216 fighters from separatist groups. The operation began on January 29 in response to a series of coordinated attacks by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which targeted schools, banks, markets, and military installations.

According to a military statement, security forces launched Operation Radd-ul-Fitna-1 to “dismantle terrorist sleeper cells” through sustained operations. The operation involved “meticulous planning” and “actionable intelligence”. During the operation, 36 civilians, including women and children, and 22 security personnel lost their lives.

The military also reported recovering a substantial cache of foreign-origin weapons, ammunition, explosives, and equipment. Preliminary analysis suggests that the fighters received systematic external facilitation and logistical support. The operation resulted in significant degradation of leadership and operational capabilities of terrorist networks.

Pakistan has been dealing with a separatist movement in Balochistan for decades, with violence surging in recent years. Armed groups claim to be resisting exploitation in the resource-rich province. The region is rich in coal, gold, copper, and gas, generating revenue for the federal government. Separatists have regularly targeted security forces and civilians, including Chinese nationals working on regional projects.

The military has reported eliminating over 700 terrorists in the past year, with around 70 eliminated in just two days. The operation was led by Balochistan’s Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, who stated that the attacks would not weaken Pakistan’s resolve against terrorism.

Source: Al Jazeera