Pakistan army kills 14 militants in operation in Balochistan

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD (AA) - Pakistan’s army killed 14 militants in an intelligence-based operation in the southwestern province of Balochistan, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said Saturday.

The operation was carried out in the Zehri area of Khuzdar district, Naqvi said in a statement.

“Security forces foiled the nefarious designs of Indian sponsored terrorists,” he said.

Indian authorities have not responded to Islamabad’s allegation of sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan.

According to state broadcaster Pakistan Television, at least 20 militants were also injured during the operation.

On Friday, the army said it had killed seven militants in Balochistan’s Sherani district, while on Oct. 1 it apprehended four militants in the Khuzdar area.

Militant violence in Pakistan dropped sharply in September after record levels in August, according to a report by the Islamabad-based Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).

The think tank recorded 69 militant attacks nationwide in September -- a 52% decline from 143 in August. Those attacks killed 135 people and injured 173, while militants also abducted at least 27. Among those killed were 61 security personnel, 20 militants and 54 civilians. The injured included 74 security personnel and 99 civilians.

Security forces conducted 47 operations across the country in September, killing 197 militants. Seven security personnel were killed during those actions.

Pakistan has seen a renewed wave of attacks on security forces in recent years, which Islamabad blames on Afghanistan-based militants loyal to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, an umbrella alliance of armed groups. Kabul rejects the accusation.