Pakistan Military Kills 145 Militants in Balochistan Counter-Operations
Pakistan’s security forces have eliminated 145 militants in Balochistan over four days, the military announced on Monday. The large-scale counter-terrorism operations were a direct response to a deadly attack on a security installation last week.
Key Details of the Operations
- Casualty Count: 145 militants killed in the last 96 hours.
- Location: Intelligence-based operations in Mach and Kolpur areas.
- Trigger: Retaliation for the January 29-30 Mach attack that killed 4 security personnel and 2 civilians.
- Recovery: A large cache of arms and ammunition seized from the slain militants.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, stated that the operations targeted those involved in the Mach assault and other terrorist activities.
“In the ensuing sanitisation and clearance operations, own troops have killed 145 terrorists in the last 96 hours,” the ISPR said in a statement.
The military confirmed that clearance operations are still ongoing to neutralize any remaining threats in the region.
Background: The Balochistan Insurgency
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest yet poorest province, has faced a separatist insurgency for decades. Militants frequently target security forces and infrastructure, particularly projects linked to the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Claim of Responsibility and Designations
The recent Mach attack was claimed by the Majeed Brigade of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a major separatist group. The BLA is designated as a terrorist organization by Pakistan, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused its regional rival, India, of supporting Baloch separatists—an allegation India consistently denies.
