Islamabad, 2 February. Security forces in Pakistan’s Balochistan province killed 145 people in a military operation that lasted for about 40 hours. Local media quoted provincial Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti as saying that the action was taken in response to a series of “coordinated” gun and bomb attacks in Balochistan. According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), 92 militants were killed in this operation.
At the same time, 15 civilians also died. Pakistan’s leading newspaper Express Tribune published this news. Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti said that 17 soldiers of different security agencies including police and Frontier Corps were killed in these attacks. Apart from this, a naval officer also lost his life. Altogether 31 people died, while several others were injured.
This is considered to be the most dangerous wave of violence in recent years in Balochistan, the south-western province of Pakistan. This area is rich in natural resources and its borders are with Iran and Afghanistan. The rebel groups active here have intensified attacks on security forces, common people and critical infrastructure. Pakistan’s Deputy Home Minister Talal Chaudhary said that the attackers disguised themselves as civilians and entered hospitals, schools, banks and markets and then suddenly started firing.
He said civilians working in shops were targeted and civilians were used as human shields during the attacks. “In every case, the attackers posed as civilians and indiscriminately targeted common people working in shops,” Choudhary said. The separatist Baloch Liberation Army has taken responsibility for these attacks.
The organization claimed that it launched a coordinated operation named ‘Heroof’ or ‘Black Storm’, in which security forces were targeted across Balochistan. The organization also claims that it killed more than 80 security forces personnel and captured 18 others. Balochistan is the largest but poorest province of Pakistan. Rebellion has been going on here for decades. Separatist groups within the Baloch community have long demanded greater autonomy and a greater share in the province’s natural resources.
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