QUETTA – Security forces killed 21 terrorists in separate operations in Balochistan during the night of Aug 31 and Sept 1, the military’s media wing said on Tuesday.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), 11 terrorists affiliated with Fitna al-Hindustan were killed in Nokcha, Chagai district, after they set up an illegal checkpoint on the N-40 Quetta-Taftan Highway in an attempt to extort money from commuters.
Security forces responded immediately and killed the terrorists following an intense exchange of fire. Weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered, ISPR said.
In a separate incident in Ziarat Cross, Pishin district, 10 terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij were killed after launching a coordinated attack on a Customs House, according to ISPR.
The security forces repelled the attack and also engaged fleeing terrorists, inflicting further casualties, it said.
ISPR described the attack as part of a “terror-crime nexus” aimed at preventing Customs officials from carrying out their duties and facilitating criminal activities in the area.
Six personnel, including two security officers and a Customs Department official, were killed during the exchange of fire, the military said.
Sanitisation operations were under way in the surrounding areas to eliminate any remaining terrorists and ensure the security of the local population and national highways.
ISPR said the counter-terrorism campaign under the government-approved “Azm-e-Istehkam” framework would continue with full resolve to eliminate foreign-sponsored and foreign-supported terrorism from the country.
