Shafaqna Pakistan: Eighteen terrorists affiliated with Fitna al-Hindustan were killed in Balochistan’s Surab district after a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) detonated prematurely during preparations, followed by a joint clearance operation, the military’s media wing said on Wednesday.
The federal government last year designated all terrorist groups operating in Balochistan as “Fitna al-Hindustan”, alleging that India was supporting a proxy conflict through these organisations.
According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the incident occurred on the morning of August 12 when terrorists were preparing an explosives-laden vehicle.
“The premature detonation during preparation resulted in the confirmed killing of eight terrorists, with multiple others injured,” the ISPR said. It added that the initial blast triggered secondary explosions involving other explosives stored at the location, resulting in the deaths of three nearby civilians.
Security forces and Balochistan Police subsequently launched a joint clearance operation in the area to locate and neutralise the remaining militants and their facilitators.
The statement said security forces and Balochistan Police reached the site and launched a joint clearance operation to trace the perpetrators and their facilitators.
“During the operation, security forces proactively detected the movement of fleeing terrorists, effectively engaged and neutralised ten more. In total, eighteen terrorists affiliated with Fitna-al Hindustan have been eliminated in these incidents so far. However, during the intense exchange of fire, two brave soldiers also sustained injuries,” the ISPR said.
It further added that sanitisation operations were continuing in the area to eliminate any remaining terrorists.
“The relentless counter-terrorism campaign under the vision of Azm-e-Istehkam (as approved by the Federal Apex Committee under the National Action Plan) by the security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” it said.
Source: Express Tribune
