Ten terrorists killed, civilian martyred as security forces foil attacks in Gwadar: ISPR

Security forces killed 10 terrorists, including a woman, during clearance operations in Gwadar after attacks in the port city and near the Gabd Border Crossing, the military’s media wing said on Friday.

One civilian was killed and several vehicles were damaged during the attacks on Thursday, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). No security personnel were martyred in the operations, it added.

The ISPR said the terrorists belonged to the Indian-sponsored group it calls Fitna al Hindustan, a term used by Pakistani authorities to refer to the banned Balochistan-based militant group.

Attacks in Gwadar

According to the ISPR, the terrorists attempted to carry out attacks in the general areas of the Gabd Border Crossing and Gwadar city on Thursday.

The security forces launched clearance operations in and around the city to protect residents and secure the area, the statement said.

In separate engagements, troops foiled the attacks and killed 10 terrorists, including a woman, the ISPR said. The operations concluded without any casualties among security personnel, restoring order in the area, it added.

The military said the attacks were aimed at harming local residents and obstructing Balochistan’s development and prosperity.

ISPR condemns use of woman in attack

The ISPR said that a Baloch woman had been coerced into participating in the attack, describing the act as an offence against the state and the honour of Baloch women.

It said the use of women was intended to influence public sentiment and lend legitimacy to the militants’ campaign.

The statement added that such tactics were contrary to Baloch and Islamic traditions, which it said held women in high regard.

The ISPR said the counter-terrorism campaign under the vision of Azm-e-Istehkam would continue at full pace.

The initiative was approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, according to the statement.

The military said security forces and law enforcement agencies remained committed to eliminating what it described as foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country.

PM, president commend security forces

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday praised security forces for killing 10 terrorists and foiling attacks in Gwadar and around the Gabd Border Crossing.

In a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Shehbaz commended the professionalism of security forces personnel and expressed grief over the death of a civilian during the attacks. He also prayed for the departed soul and patience for the bereaved family.

The prime minister said the terrorists were enemies of Balochistan’s development and prosperity, adding that Fitna al Hindustan would never succeed in its objectives.

Shehbaz said operations under the Azm-e-Istehkam counter-terrorism initiative would continue at full pace until terrorism was eliminated.

He added that the entire nation, including himself, stood alongside security forces and law enforcement agencies in their efforts to eliminate what he described as foreign-sponsored terrorism.

President Zardari also commended security forces for foiling the attacks and expressed sorrow over the civilian death.

He said conspiracies against peace and stability in Balochistan would not weaken the resolve of the province’s people to pursue development and prosperity.

The president stressed that peace was essential to protecting the rights and interests of Balochistan’s people. He also condemned the use of Baloch women’s dignity for political purposes.

Balochistan has witnessed an increase in terrorist activity in recent years, prompting security forces to step up counter-terrorism operations.

Earlier on Friday, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir vowed to continue operations against what the military describes as Indian-sponsored terrorist outfits.

“He underscored that we will continue the campaign against Indian-sponsored terrorist outfits to the fullest and hit them hard wherever they are,” ISPR said in a statement.

Munir expressed confidence that Pakistan, with the support of its people, would defeat the terrorists and what the military described as their “perverted ideology”, the statement further said.