Quetta, February 8: Following intense clashes between Baloch militants and Pakistani security forces, authorities in Islamabad have initiated large-scale operations in Balochistan. According to local media reports on Sunday, at least 180 individuals have been detained.
Officials stated that the Frontier Corps and police conducted joint operations in several cities across Balochistan after a series of attacks. Approximately 180 suspects were taken into custody during these operations.
As reported by the Pakistani newspaper Dawn, security forces also seized a significant cache of weapons and ammunition during the operations. Prior to this, Pakistani officials claimed that at least 216 Baloch militants were killed during the crackdown that began last Saturday. However, multiple media reports indicate that several civilians have also lost their lives amid the ongoing security campaign.
Earlier, Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) spokesperson Jiand Baloch announced on February 6 that the organization successfully achieved its objectives during the recent attacks.
According to a report by The Balochistan Post, the BLA described this campaign as targeting 14 cities in Balochistan, labeling it the group’s largest, deadliest, and most coordinated operation to date.
The statement noted that Baloch fighters executed coordinated attacks at various locations, managing to gain control over security posts, military bases, and parts of urban areas in some regions.
The BLA spokesperson claimed that their units maintained positions in several cities for six consecutive days, forcing Pakistani security forces to retreat continuously.
Previously, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif acknowledged that the military had been weakened by the Baloch militants. In a statement to the National Assembly, he remarked, “Balochistan constitutes more than 40 percent of Pakistan geographically. Controlling it is far more challenging than managing a populated city or area. It requires heavy forces. Our soldiers are deployed there and are taking action against them (the militants), but they are physically strained in patrolling and securing such a vast area.”
–
K.K./A.B.M