Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Friday that 10 India-sponsored terrorists were killed in separate engagements as security forces thwarted their attempts to “undermine the writ of the state” in Balochistan’s Gwadar district.
In a statement, the military’s media affairs wing said: “On Oct 22, Indian-sponsored terrorists of Fitna al Hindustan attempted to carry out terrorist activities in district Gwadar, in the general areas of the Gabd Border Crossing and Gwadar city.”
The state has designated Balochistan-based groups as Fitna al Hindustan to highlight India’s role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan.
“By targeting these locations, terrorists sought to harm the very people they claim to represent and wanted to obstruct the development and prosperity of Balochistan. To protect residents and clear the area, security forces launched clearance operations in and around Gwadar city,” ISPR said.
It said that in separate engagements, security forces foiled the terrorists’ designs and “their bid to undermine the writ of the state and spread their misconstrued agenda”.
“In the ensuing exchanges of fire, ten terrorists, including one female terrorist, were sent to hell. During the terrorist attacks one civilian embraced shahadat (martyrdom) and [a] few vehicles were damaged. Operations were concluded without any loss to security forces, restoring order and writ of the state,” it said.
The statement further said that the coercion of a Baloch woman into the attack was “a crime not only against the state but against the hurmat (respect) of Baloch women”.
“It exposes the terrorists’ cynical exploitation of Baloch women as an instrument of propaganda, intended to inflame public sentiment and lend false sanctity to their campaign. Such tactics are contrary to Baloch and Islamic traditions, which hold women in the highest honour. The people of Balochistan have consistently rejected those who shed blood in their name, and they will see through this deception as well,” it said.
The statement said that the counterterror campaign would continue at full pace.
“Security forces and law enforcement agencies remain resolute in eliminating foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” it said.
The ISPR statement comes a day after security sources said that security forces killed three terrorists and foiled an attack on an unoccupied construction company camp in Gwadar.
Balochistan has witnessed an increase in terrorist activities in recent years, prompting security forces to intensify counter-terrorism operations.
Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir said earlier on Friday the armed forces will continue the counterterrorism campaign against Indian-sponsored terrorist groups “to the fullest”, vowing to “hit them hard wherever they are”.
Earlier this week, ISPR said an army major was martyred and four terrorists were killed during intelligence-based operations in Balochistan.
The number of terrorist attacks in the province increased by seven per cent from 83 in July to 89 in August, according to data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).
As per the report, Balochistan was declared the province “most affected” by terrorism.
Following the latest operations by security forces in Gwadar, President Asif Ali Zardari commended the security forces for foiling the terrorists’ attempts.
“The president also expressed deep sorrow and grief over the martyrdom of a citizen in a terrorism incident,” the statement issued by the Presidency said.
It further quoted President Zardari as saying that efforts to disrupt peace and stability in Balochistan could not shake the people’s resolve for development and prosperity in the province.
He stressed the importance of peace for the protection of the rights and interests of people of Balochistan and said that “using the honour of Baloch women for political interests is condemnable”.