No safe haven for militants in Balochistan, govt says after Ziarat operation

QUETTA: A large-scale clearance operation launched after a deadly militant attack on police in Balochistan’s Ziarat district has been completed, with 15 militants killed, the provincial government said on Tuesday, vowing to continue intelligence-based operations against armed groups across the province.

In a statement issued after the operation, Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind said the militants had paid a “heavy price” for attempting to disrupt peace in the province, adding that the state was responding to terrorism with full force.

“The terrorists’ malicious designs have been crushed by law enforcement agencies,” Rind said, adding that there would be no safe havens for militants in Balochistan.

He said every militant attack would be met with a decisive response and reiterated that intelligence-based operations would continue until terrorism was eliminated.

“The sacrifices of the police officers and personnel martyred in Ziarat will not go in vain,” he said. “The blood of our martyrs will be avenged.”

Rind stressed that there would be no compromise on the peace, stability and security of Balochistan and described the eradication of terrorism as the government’s top priority.

He also praised the police personnel for putting up a brave fight against the attackers despite being heavily targeted during the assault.

According to the provincial government, two police officers and seven other personnel embraced martyrdom while resisting the militants during the operation.

The clearance operation was launched after heavily armed militants attacked police in the Kuch Mangi Phase III area of Ziarat late Monday, triggering an intense gun battle that continued for several hours.

Multiple law enforcement agencies participated in the counterterrorism operation, which authorities said successfully dismantled the militant network operating in the area.

Earlier, Ziarat Senior Superintendent of Police Qadoos Dehwar had confirmed that nine police personnel were martyred in the attack.

Police have identified eight of the fallen personnel as Station House Officer (SHO) Muhammad Hussain, SHO Sohbat Khan, Abdul Baqi, Sher Muhammad Kawas, Mansoor Ahmed, Saifullah of the Anti-Terrorist Force (ATF) Harnai, Muhammad Ashraf Sanjawi and Azad Khan Sanjawi. The identity of the ninth martyred officer has yet to be officially disclosed.

The bodies of the slain personnel were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital in Ziarat for post-mortem examinations and other legal formalities.

Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack, saying it once again demonstrated that militants were enemies of Balochistan’s peace, development and prosperity.

Expressing condolences to the families of the martyrs, the prime minister vowed that operations against militant groups would continue until the threat posed by anti-state elements was eliminated.

The latest attack underscores the persistent security challenges facing Balochistan, where security forces have intensified intelligence-based operations in recent months against militant groups responsible for attacks on law enforcement personnel and civilians.