The handlers of the terrorists who attempted to attack security forces’ camps in Balochistan’s Panjgur and Naushki on Wednesday night were based in Afghanistan and India, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Thursday.
“As per the initial investigation, intelligence agencies have intercepted communications between terrorists and their handlers in Afghanistan and India,” according to a statement issued by the military’s media wing.
Panjgur, Naushki attacks
The terrorists had attempted to attack camps of security forces in Panjgur and Naushki in two separate attacks late on Wednesday evening, which the forces “successfully repulsed” while causing heavy damage to the attackers, killing at least 13 militants. Four soldiers, including an officer, embraced martyrdom while repulsing the attack, according to ISPR.
Clearance operation underway in Panjgur, Naushki
Following the attacks, the security forces carried out a search and clearance operation in the area to find hiding terrorists.
“After successfully repulsing terrorist attacks at Panjgur and Naushki yesterday night, security forces carried out clearance operation to hunt down terrorists hiding in the area,” the statement said.
In Naushki, security forces encountered and killed five more terrorists, while in Panjgur, four terrorists were killed and at least four to five were “encircled by security forces”, according to the ISPR statement. The ISPR said the operation in Panjgur to eliminate fleeing terrorists “is continuing”.
PM, opposition leader pay tribute to “brave” security forces
Earlier today, Prime Minister Imran Khan paid tribute to the “brave” security forces for repulsing the terrorist attacks in Balochistan the previous night as he acknowledged their “great sacrifices”.
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the bravery and courage of the Pakistan Army and the officers who had sacrificed their lives to defend the country.
Incident latest in the string of Balochistan attacks
Last night’s attacks were claimed by the banned Baloch Liberation Army. The incidents are the latest in a string of attacks in Balochistan and come a week after ten soldiers were martyred in a terrorist attack on a security forces’ checkpost in the province’s Kech district.
According to the ISPR, the “fire raid” by terrorists in Kech had occurred on the night of Jan 25-26.