Pakistani security forces have killed 105 militants in southwestern Balochistan since July 5, state media reported on Sunday, saying that joint counterterror operations in the area are underway after militants killed over 40 in attacks this month.
Background of the attacks
Pakistan’s military said earlier this week that militants killed 42 people, out of which 38 were security personnel, in three major attacks across the province since July 5. The attacks were carried out by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and the Pakistani Taliban or TTP, the military said. One of the attacks targeted police posts in the Mangi area, killing nine law enforcement officials and triggering “Operation Shaban.”
Operation Shaban and intelligence-based operations
The joint operation is being launched by the army, paramilitary Frontier Corps Balochistan and police forces, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. Pakistani security officials said on Saturday that 102 militants have been killed in Operation Shaban and other intelligence-based operations since July 5.
“According to security sources, air and ground operations by the security forces against Fitna Al-Khawarij in the area are underway, resulting in the killing of three more Khawarij,” Radio Pakistan said.
Terminology and militant groups
Pakistan’s military and government use the term “Fitna Al-Khawarij” to describe the TTP militant group, which has carried out some of the deadliest attacks against Pakistani law enforcers since 2007. Radio Pakistan said this takes the total tally of militants killed in Operation Shaban and other intelligence-based operations since July 5 to 105. It added that 67 of these militants have been killed in Operation Shaban alone.
“Security sources said that Operation Shaban will continue in Balochistan until the last terrorist is eliminated,” the state broadcaster reported.
Broader context of Balochistan insurgency
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least developed province bordering Iran and Afghanistan, has long faced a separatist insurgency that has intensified in recent years. Pakistani security forces have also been battling religiously motivated militant groups such as the TTP in the province. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday blamed Pakistan’s “eastern neighbor,” a reference to India, for backing the attacks in Balochistan, where China has been developing the deep-sea port of Gwadar on the Arabian Sea and has made major investments under its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). India denies the allegations while Afghanistan also rejects Pakistan’s accusations that it provides sanctuary to militant outfits TTP and BLA to launch attacks against Pakistani law enforcers.
