Simultaneous attacks at 12 locations in Pakistan, 68 killed

Simultaneous armed attacks took place at 12 locations in Balochistan, the south-western province of Pakistan. At least 10 members of the country's security forces and police were killed in the attacks. Security sources claim 58 attackers were killed in counter-operations.

Pakistani media outlet Geo News reported this information on Saturday, citing a security forces source.

The source claimed that members of a group referred to as 'Fitna al-Hindustan', allegedly backed by India, attempted attacks at various locations in Balochistan. However, these attacks were repelled through swift and coordinated action by the security forces. The Pakistani government typically uses the term 'Fitna al-Khariji' to refer to militants associated with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, TTP, and 'Fitna al-Hindustan' to refer to India's alleged involvement in destabilising activities across the country.

Security forces have stated that operations are still ongoing in various areas and more casualties may be reported.

Condemning the attacks, Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the role of the security forces. Paying tribute to the deceased members, he said those who sacrificed their lives whilst thwarting the terrorists' plans are the pride of the nation.

Shahid Rind, an official of the Balochistan provincial government, said police and the Frontier Corps, FC, foiled terrorist attack attempts in several areas of the province. According to him, these attack attempts occurred after more than 70 terrorists were killed in security forces operations over the past two days.

Earlier, on Thursday, Pakistan's security forces reported that 41 terrorists were killed in intelligence-based operations, IBO, in Harnai and Panjgur districts. Another source claims a total of 88 terrorists have been killed in Balochistan over the past 48 hours.

The Inter-Services Public Relations, ISPR, the public relations wing of the Pakistan Army, said in a statement that 30 members of 'Fitna al-Khariji' were killed in an operation conducted in Harnai district based on information about their location. It was also claimed that 11 terrorists associated with 'Fitna al-Hindustan' were killed in a separate operation in Panjgur. A large quantity of arms, ammunition, and explosives were recovered during the operations, it was reported.

ISPR claimed that many of the deceased were involved in various terrorist activities in the past, and weapons and money looted during a bank robbery in Panjgur were also recovered.

It is noteworthy that since the breakdown of the ceasefire with the Pakistani government in late 2022, the TTP has intensified attacks on the country's army and police. Their activities have particularly increased in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The Pakistani government alleges that these militants operate from within neighbouring Afghanistan and receive support from India. However, Kabul's Taliban administration and New Delhi have been denying these allegations.