RAWALPINDI (The Thursday Times) — An army major and a havildar were martyred when terrorists attacked a patrol with armed quadcopters in Balochistan on Saturday, the military said, hours after troops killed eight terrorists, including a suicide bomber, in the same area.
Major Omer Minhas Nasir, from Chakwal district, and Havildar Muhammad Adnan Khan, from Kotli Sattian, were in military vehicles on patrol when they were hit, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. It blamed Fitna al-Hindustan, the name the state uses for Baloch separatist groups it says are backed by India.
Security forces have been carrying out intelligence-based operations around Kolpur, Kardagap, and Nushki since November 13, the ISPR said, including patrols to keep the Quetta–Taftan National Highway (N-40) secure for local traffic. The highway links Quetta with the Iranian border at Taftan.
On the night of November 13–14, troops killed eight terrorists near Kolpur, including a suicide bomber, and recovered a large cache of weapons and ammunition, the military said.
“This cowardly act has not shaken the resolve of the security forces,” the ISPR said. “The tempo of operations will be maintained and IBOs will continue with the same vigour to secure the local population and eliminate the menace of terrorism.”
The military said the group was trying to use drones, improvised explosive devices, and other technical means to target civilians and security forces, and accused India of giving it “full financial support” and “the latest gadgetry.” Troops were aware of the evolving threat and would deny the terrorists any space, it said.
The two deaths brought to four the number of soldiers martyred in operations the military reported on Saturday. Earlier in the day, the ISPR said Havildar Asmat Ali and Naik Aftab Ali were martyred and 16 terrorists were killed in North Waziristan, taking the day’s count of terrorists killed in both provinces to 24.
On Friday, the military said 74 terrorists had been killed in operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Operations under Azm-e-Istehkam, the counterterrorism campaign approved by the federal apex committee on the National Action Plan, would continue at full pace, the ISPR said. “The sacrifices of our martyrs further strengthen this resolve.”
