Eighteen soldiers were martyred, and 23 terrorists were killed in various sanitisation operations in Balochistan in the last 24 hours, the military’s media affairs wing said in a press release on Saturday.
Eleven militants were killed in an operation in Harnai district on Friday, while twelve others died in the initial clash overnight in Kalat district, according to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The ISPR said on the night between January 31 and February 1, terrorists attempted to establish road blocks in general area of Mangocher, Kalat district of Balochistan.
“On behest of inimical and hostile forces, this cowardly act of terrorism was aimed at disrupting the peaceful environment of Balochistan by targeting mainly the innocent civilians.”
It said that security forces and law enforcement agencies were immediately mobilised, “who successfully thwarted the evil design of terrorists and sent twelve terrorists to hell, ensuring security and protection of the local populace”.
However, during the conduct of operations, eighteen brave sons of soil, having fought gallantly, made the ultimate sacrifice and embraced martyrdom, it said, adding that “sanitisation operations” were being conducted and the “perpetrators, facilitators and abettors of this heinous and cowardly act, will be brought to justice”.
It said that the security forces remain determined to thwart attempts at sabotaging the peace, stability and progress of the provinces and such sacrifices of brave soldiers further strengthened their resolve.
In an follow-up statement, ISPR said in the backdrop of the heinous act of terrorism in Kalat district, multiple santisation operations are being conducted by the security forces throughout the province.
On February 1, 2025, one such operation was conducted in Harnai district, where “own troops effectively engaged the terrorists as a result of which eleven terrorists were sent to hell. Multiple terrorist hideouts were also busted”.
“Thus far total of 23 terrorists have been sent to hell in different operations in Balochistan in last 24 hours,” the military said.
“The sanitisation operations will continue until perpetrators and facilitators of the heinous and cowardly act are brought to justice.”
It added that the security forces of Pakistan, “in step with the nation, are determined to wipe-out the menace of terrorism from Balochistan and Pakistan”.
Uptick in terrorist activities
Pakistan has recently witnessed an uptick in terrorist activities, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
In a separate incident, security forces killed 10 terrorists during multiple operations in KP, the military’s media wing said yesterday.
Two soldiers were also martyred and five terrorists were killed in a foiled attack on a security checkpost in Balochistan’s Qila Abdullah district, the military’s media affairs wing said earlier this week.
Terror attacks have increased since the banned militant Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan group broke a fragile ceasefire agreement with the government. With at least 685 members of security forces losing their lives amid a total of 444 terror attacks, 2024 turned out to be the deadliest year for the civil and military security forces of Pakistan in a decade.
Equally alarming were the cumulative losses of civilians and security personnel: 1,612 fatalities, accounting for over 63 per cent of the total recorded the past year and marking 73pc more losses compared to 934 outlaws eliminated. The overall fatalities recorded last year were a record nine-year high, and over 66pc more than in 2023. On average, nearly seven lives were lost daily.
