Pakistan said on Tuesday 177 militants were killed in recent attacks and counter-operations in the southwestern province of Balochistan, while 17 members of the security forces also died.
Speaking during a National Assembly session, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said the slain security personnel included 10 police officers, six Frontier Corps members, and one Levies official.
Intelligence-based operations in Harnai and Panjgur killed more than three dozen militants within the first 48 hours, with several others were arrested and weapons seized.
Chaudhry said "33 laborers were killed in Gwadar and the Makran region", noting that "some victims’ women carried copies of the Quran and pleaded they were Baloch, but militants showed no regard for religion or ethnicity".
He compared fighters of the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), who operate in the name of ethnicity, to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, who commit violence under the guise of religion.
He said security forces required additional time in some areas because militants were hiding among civilians and using public spaces as cover.
Chaudhry also accused India of supporting militancy, saying Pakistan had presented evidence at international forums and that the TTP and BLA had been designated terrorist organizations on this basis. He claimed all countries had condemned the violence in Balochistan except India.
Chaudhry said the number of missing persons in Pakistan was fewer than 2,500, lower than in most other countries, noting that many had moved to mountainous areas or gone into hiding due to criminal activity. He urged political parties and the public to support security forces in the fight against militancy.
Parliament passes resolution
Separately, Pakistan’s National Assembly unanimously passed a resolution condemning the recent militant attacks in Balochistan. The resolution, moved by Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, described attacks on civilians, women, and children as “unforgivable crimes” and called for decisive action under a zero-tolerance policy.
The resolution also expressed concern over external patronage for militancy, singling out India’s alleged role, and accused some neighboring countries of providing logistical, operational and financial support to militant groups. It called for an immediate and coordinated national response combining political, diplomatic, military, intelligence, legal, and narrative efforts.
The attacks, carried out on Saturday, targeted security installations and government facilities across multiple cities, including Quetta, Mastung, Kalat, Nushki, Kharan, Dalbandin, Turbat, Tump, Gwadar, and Pasni. According to the provincial chief minister, 31 civilians and 17 security personnel were killed, while 145 militants were also reported dead.
Mobile phone and internet services remain suspended in Quetta and other areas, while train services between Quetta and other parts of Pakistan have been halted for a fourth consecutive day due to security concerns.
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