Security forces have killed 10 militants, including a woman, during operations in Balochistan’s Gwadar district after thwarting alleged terrorist attacks near the Gabd Border Crossing and in Gwadar city, the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said.
In a statement, the ISPR said the incidents took place on October 22, when militants described by the military as Indian-sponsored members of Fitna al Hindustan allegedly attempted to carry out attacks in the area.
According to the statement, the militants intended to target locations in Gwadar to disrupt public safety and hinder development activities in Balochistan. Security forces subsequently launched clearance operations to protect residents and secure the affected areas.
The military said troops engaged the militants in separate encounters, foiling their alleged plans to challenge state authority and spread violence. Ten militants, including one woman, were killed during exchanges of fire.
However, one civilian lost his life during the attacks, while several vehicles were damaged. The ISPR said the operations concluded without any casualties among security personnel and that order had been restored.
The military’s statement also condemned the alleged involvement of a Baloch woman in the attacks, describing the reported coercion of women into militant activities as an exploitation of their dignity for political purposes.
The ISPR said security forces and law enforcement agencies would continue counterterrorism operations to eliminate what it described as foreign-sponsored militancy across the country.
The latest development follows an incident a day earlier, when security sources reported that three militants had been killed during an operation that foiled an attempted attack on an unoccupied construction company camp in Gwadar.
Balochistan has experienced an increase in militant violence in recent years, leading to intensified security operations across the province.
Earlier on Friday, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir reiterated the military’s commitment to continuing counterterrorism operations against groups described by the authorities as Indian-sponsored, pledging a forceful response against those responsible.
Earlier this week, the ISPR reported that an army major had been martyred and four militants killed during intelligence-based operations in Balochistan.
Data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) showed that reported militant attacks in the province increased from 83 in July to 89 in August, a rise of seven per cent. The report identified Balochistan as the province most affected by terrorism during the period.
Following the latest operations, President Asif Ali Zardari praised security forces for preventing the attacks and expressed grief over the civilian death.
According to a statement issued by the Presidency, the president said attempts to undermine peace and stability in Balochistan would not weaken the public’s commitment to the province’s development and prosperity.
He emphasised that peace was essential to protecting the rights and interests of Balochistan’s residents and condemned the alleged use of Baloch women for political purposes in militant activities.
