Security forces kill three more in Mastung operation, toll rises to 13

Security forces have killed three more suspected terrorists in an ongoing intelligence-based operation in Balochistan’s Mastung district, taking the reported death toll to 13, according to state-run Radio Pakistan and statements from Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. The latest action took place in the Khad Kocha area, where the operation has continued under an indefinite curfew. Authorities say the offensive began after an attack on a Karachi-bound coach from Quetta earlier in the week left three people dead and five others injured. Radio Pakistan reported that the operation, which has been described by officials as Operation Al-Azm, has already resulted in six suspected militants being killed on Thursday and four more on Friday before the latest reported deaths on Saturday. Security sources also said several hideouts were destroyed during the operation. Officials further said weapons, ammunition and material used to make improvised explosive devices were recovered from the area. Radio Pakistan also quoted security sources as saying there were confirmed reports of injuries among other suspected militants during the ongoing action, though no further details were provided. In a separate statement reported by APP, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the security forces for what he called professional counterterrorism work. He said operations against militants were continuing across Balochistan as part of the wider effort. The government has used the term “Fitna al-Hindustan” for Balochistan-based armed groups, a label it says reflects India’s alleged role in destabilisation and terrorism in Pakistan. That wording appeared in the state media accounts of the latest operation. As with many such security operations, there are still important details that remain unclear. Officials have not publicly identified the individuals killed, given an independent accounting of the incident, or said when the curfew will be lifted. It is also not clear whether the reported weapon recovery and destruction of hideouts will affect militant activity in the area in the coming days. For residents of Mastung and nearby parts of Balochistan, the immediate impact is likely to be continued movement restrictions and heightened security presence. The attack on the Quetta-to-Karachi coach has already underscored how quickly violence in the region can spill over onto civilian travel routes, deepening concerns about road safety and the broader security climate. The operation remains ongoing, and officials say more updates may follow as troops continue searches in the affected area. For now, the reported tally of those killed stands at 13, based on information provided by state media and security sources.

Source: Dawn Home - https://www.dawn.com/news/2018281/3-more-terrorists-killed-in-mastung-ibo-taking-tally-to-13

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