1,100 militants killed in Balochistan in two years: officials

Balochistan’s authorities said on Tuesday that more than 60,000 intelligence-based operations had been conducted against militants in the province over the past two years, resulting in the deaths of 1,100 militants and the arrest of 550 alleged militants.

Separatist attacks in Balochistan have intensified in recent months, with attacks by Baloch armed groups killing security personnel and civilians. Law enforcement agencies continue operations against the groups.

During a media briefing on the security situation in Quetta, Provincial Home Minister Mir Zia Langove, Chief Minister’s Special Assistant on Political Affairs Shahid Rind and Additional Chief Secretary Hamza Shafqaat said the provincial government was fully prepared to maintain law and order.

Officials said intelligence-based operations were continuing in different parts of the province. More than 300 personnel and officers of the police and other security forces had lost their lives during these operations, they added.

Additional Chief Secretary Hamza Shafqaat said 551 civilians had been killed in incidents of militancy. He added that 1,400 people had been placed on the Fourth Schedule, while action had been taken against 300 families allegedly providing support to militants.

According to the additional chief secretary, 32 joint security centres had been established along the Quetta-Loralai National Highway, after which no incident had been reported there over the past two years. Similar centres are being established along the Quetta-Karachi section over the next four months, he said.

Counterterrorism measures

During the briefing, Home Minister Langove said, “We are not denying that terrorism and unrest are taking place, but the provincial government is focusing on maintaining law and order rather than marching on Islamabad.”

He was referring to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the ruling party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which had announced a long march towards Islamabad to press its demands. The federal government, however, imposed an emergency and governor’s rule in the province on October 11.

The home minister said the provincial government had taken several measures against terrorism over the past two years, with work continuing under the National Action Plan and in counterterrorism and other areas.

According to Langove, the Balochistan government had passed 18 new laws related to counterterrorism and established 17 new departments over the past two years. Faceless courts had also been established in the province, while the provincial government had repatriated more than 1.1 million refugees to their home countries, he said.

He added that several initiatives were under way, including the Safe City project, a forensic agency, the Quetta Security Board and the installation of new cameras.

Langove said the provincial government had invested Rs14 billion in countering militancy and conducted more than 60,000 operations of various kinds.

“Whatever the forces need to eliminate terrorism, our provincial government provides it,” he said.