Rawalpindi, 26 August 2024 (TDI): As many as fourteen security personnel embraced martyrdom in clearance operations against terrorists in Balochistan, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Monday.
The military’s media wing said on the night between August 25-26, the terrorists attempted to conduct multiple heinous activities in the province.
On behest of “inimical and hostile forces”, the ISPR said these cowardly acts of terrorism were aimed at disrupting the peaceful environment and development of the province by targeting mainly the innocent civilians, particularly in Musa Khel, Labela and Kalat districts.
Resultantly, many innocent civilians embraced shahadat, it added.
In Musa Khel district, terrorists stopped a bus in Rara Sham area and maliciously fired at innocent individuals, working in Balochistan to earn their livelihood, the ISPR said.
It went on to say that security forces and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) immediately responded and successfully thwarted the evil design of terrorists and sent twenty-one terrorists to hell in ensuing clearance operations, ensuring security and protection of local people.
However, during the conduct of operations, the statement said fourteen brave sons of soil including ten security forces soldiers and 4 personnel of law enforcement agencies, having fought gallantly, made the ultimate sacrifice and embraced martyrdom.
Sanitization operations are being conducted and the perpetrators, instigators, facilitators and abettors of these heinous and cowardly acts, targeting innocent civilians, will be brought to justice, ISPR added.
Security forces and law enforcement agencies in step with the nation remain determined to thwart attempts at sabotaging peace, stability and progress of the province and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve, the statement added.
The clearance operations were launched as at least thirty-seven people were martyred in different terrorist incidents in the province.
In one of the attacks, at least twenty-three passengers were killed after being offloaded from buses and trucks in the Rarasham area of Musakhel, Balochistan.
Police said terrorists blocked the inter-provincial highway and offloaded passengers from the vehicles.
Separately, at least ten people, including police and Balochistan Levies personnel, were martyred in firing incident in Kalat.
Police said those martyred in the attack included a police sub-inspector, 4 Levies personnel and 5 citizens.
Militants also blew up a railway bridge in nearby Bolan district on a track that connects Punjab and Sindh provinces, with 6 dead bodies found nearby, according to district authorities.
