75 insurgents were neutralized in a dayslong operation against an outlawed separatist group accused of a series of attacks on troops, police and civilians in restive Baluchistan said officials. The recent attacks have raised concerns on the expansion of the relatively smaller separatist group. The operations targeted the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which Islamabad has blamed for the attacks.
The claim came a day after PM Shehbaz visited Baloch capital. Quetta to meet the families of the 42 victims who were killed in the attacks. The government has announced a compensation of 11.1 million rupees for the next of deceased officers. According to the Pakistan PM’s office, Sharif told the bereaved families that their sacrifices “were not in vain” and assured them that those responsible would be brought to justice.
The attack according to Baluchistan government officials was launched on Monday where dozens of fighters from Baluchistan Liberation Army attacked a police post near Mangi Dam which supplies water to the city of Quetta. During the initial assault 9 police officers are said to have been killed and 18 abducted, blindfolded and later killed.
Over the past few days Baluchistan Pakistan’s largest but least populous province has been grained by separatist insurgency led by ethnic Baloch groups seeking greater autonomy or independence. The province has also faced attacks by the TTP, a militant group distinct from but allied with the Afghan Taliban.
Pakistan says security operations are continuing in Balochistan, while independent verification of its claims regarding the number of militants killed and other operational details was not immediately available.