Security forces are continuing their joint operation in Balochistan, Operation Shaban, which has resulted in the killing of three more terrorists, Dawn reports on Pakistan state media. 

The latest casualties have taken the number of terrorists killed during the operation to 88, Pakistan Television reported, quoting security sources.

The state broadcaster also said that 126 terrorists had been killed in Operation Shaban and other intelligence-based operations in Balochistan since 5 July.

The security forces’ operations are going well, and the Interior Ministry is happy with them, Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) quoted Mohsin Naqvi as saying.

Operation Shaban has been launched after a deadly attack on a police post at the pumping station of Mangi Dam in Ziarat, where 27 police staff were kidnapped and killed by armed men. The Pakistan Army, the Frontier Corps and police are all on active duty in the operation.

Pakistan Television said security forces had stepped up their air and ground operations in the ongoing search and clearance operations.

Balochistan has been experiencing prolonged militant violence and the security assessments indicate that attacks have increased significantly in recent months.

The security situation in Pakistan has worsened in May, mainly owing to heightened security threats in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, according to a monthly security report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).

Balochistan was found to be the worst affected province with 71 terrorist attacks during May, as compared to 34 in April, which was an increase of 109%.

It also revealed that in Balochistan, 52 of the total 54 abductions reported in the country were reported during the month, which showed a growing presence of militant groups in Balochistan.

In the wake of several significant attacks in Balochistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif made a statement last week that the civil and military leadership, on both sides, have taken a “mutual and singular decision” to “take steps for the elimination of terrorism”.

The prime minister, while addressing the Provincial Apex Committee on the National Action Plan in Quetta attended by the Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, said that terrorism should be dealt with only through joint efforts.

The remarks were made a day after the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry accused India and Afghanistan of being involved in the recent attacks in Balochistan.

He mentioned three incidents – armed attack on the outskirts of Quetta on 5 July, Ziarat police post attack on 6 July and ambush on army convoy in Bela on 7 July.

Ziarat protest continues

A sit-in protest over the slain police officers in Ziarat continued its sixth day on Tuesday, while the bodies of seven police officers who were killed have yet to be buried, Dawn reported.

Negotiations between government officials and protesters went on, but there was no deal.

Provincial Home Minister Ziaullah Langove, head of the government’s negotiating team, urged the relatives of the slain cops to bury the dead, noting that the government has caved to most of the families’ demands, such as establishing a judicial commission to investigate the police attack.

Family members of the killed officers were among those present at the protesters’ meeting, calling for justice and more action against militiamen, and members of the civil society and local community were also participating in the protest.