At least eight militants were killed and several others sustained injuries in two separate operations in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, the Pakistani military said on Saturday. The operations were conducted in the Kharan and Mastung districts, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.
Details of the Operations
In Kharan, three militants were killed and several others were injured. In Mastung, five militants, including a suicide bomber, were eliminated. The ISPR stated that weapons, ammunition, improvised explosive devices, and motorbikes used by the terrorists were recovered during the operations.
“Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian-sponsored terrorist found in the area,” the ISPR said. New Delhi did not immediately respond to the statement.
Context of Balochistan Insurgency
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least developed province that borders Iran and Afghanistan, has been the site of a long-running separatist insurgency that has intensified in recent years. The province has witnessed a surge in militant violence, with attacks targeting foreigners, infrastructure projects, security forces, police, and non-native Pakistanis.
Last month, more than 30 people died when a suicide bombing targeted a passenger train in the restive region, officials said. The attack was claimed by the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army separatist group. Pakistan has frequently blamed India for backing these separatist groups, an allegation denied by New Delhi.
