24 terrorists, 4 Pakistani soldiers killed in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Pakistani security forces clashed with militants during coordinated operations in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The violence highlighted persistent militant threats, including the use of armed quadcopters.

In Short

• Security forces launched intelligence-based operations across both provinces beginning Friday
• Eight militants, including a suicide bomber, were neutralised near Kolpur
• Armed quadcopters targeted military patrol vehicles during the Balochistan confrontation

At least 24 terrorists and four Pakistani soldiers, including an officer, were killed in separate clashes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, the army said on Saturday, according to news agency Press Trust of India.

Security forces have carried out several intelligence-based operations in the two provinces since Friday. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered during the operations.

In Balochistan, the operations were conducted around Kolpur, Kardagap and Nushki. The army said security forces in Kolpur had "neutralised eight terrorists of Fitna al Hindustan, including a suicide bomber, and recovered a large cache of weapons and ammunition" during the intervening night of Friday and Saturday.

The terrorists used armed quadcopters to target military vehicles on patrol, killing Major Omer Minhas Nasir and Havildar Muhammad Adnan Khan.

Last year, the Pakistan government officially designated all terrorist groups and organisations operating in Balochistan as 'Fitna al Hindustan', alleging without providing evidence, that they carried out terrorism at India's behest.

In June, India criticised Pakistan at the United Nations over its decision to refer to groups within its borders as 'Fitna al-Hindustan', calling it "officially sponsored misinformation and disinformation dressed in religious terminology".

Separately, security forces targeted several locations linked to militants in Mir Ali, Datta Khel and nearby areas of North Waziristan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The federal government uses the term 'Fitna al-Khawarij' for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

The Inter-Services Public Relations, the Pakistani military's media wing, said 12 militants were killed in an operation in Ali Khel, while two each were killed in Mir Ali and Datta Khel, PTI reported.

Havildar Asmat Ali and Naik Aftab Ali were killed during these operations. The military's media wing said both soldiers fought bravely and died in the line of duty, adding that the operations had dealt a major blow to the militant network.

Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants, who were involved in several terrorist activities, including the killing of civilians, the military said.

Overall, the separate operations in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa left 24 terrorists and four soldiers dead, with the security forces recovering weapons and ammunition from the militants.

- Ends
(With PTI inputs)