01 Feb (GulistanNewsTv): On the night of January 31 and February 1, a deadly clash occurred in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, resulting in the deaths of 18 security personnel and 12 terrorists. The confrontation took place in the Mangochar area of Kalat district when terrorists attempted to establish roadblocks, as reported by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the military.
The ISPR statement described the attack as a “cowardly act of terrorism” orchestrated by hostile forces, aimed at disrupting the peaceful environment of Balochistan and primarily targeting innocent civilians. In response, security forces and law enforcement personnel were quickly mobilized to neutralize the threat, successfully thwarting the terrorists’ plans. The operation resulted in the death of 12 militants, but unfortunately, 18 security personnel also lost their lives during the operation.
The military vowed to carry out further “sanitization operations” to eliminate any remaining threats and bring the perpetrators, facilitators, and abettors to justice. The statement reaffirmed the determination of Pakistan’s security forces to protect the region from terrorism and safeguard its stability, with the sacrifices of the fallen soldiers strengthening their resolve.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Balochistan has long been a hotbed of violence, primarily due to separatist insurgents who frequently target security forces and civilians, particularly those from other provinces.
Despite being Pakistan’s largest province with abundant resources, Balochistan remains the least developed, contributing to rising discontent and unrest. This incident follows a series of anti-terror operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where security forces killed at least 10 terrorists in separate actions.
The violence in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is part of a broader surge in attacks across Pakistan, which has intensified since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021. The violence has been exacerbated by the breakdown of a ceasefire agreement with the banned militant group Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). In 2024, Pakistan witnessed the deadliest year for its military and civilian security forces in a decade, with 685 security personnel killed in 444 terrorist attacks.
