Pakistan Forces Kill 15 Militants After Deadly Balochistan Police Attack
ISLAMABAD-Pakistani security forces killed 15 militants in a joint operation after an overnight attack on a police post in the southwestern province of Balochistan left nine police officers dead, provincial authorities said on Tuesday, in one of the latest episodes of escalating militant violence in the region.
The assault took place before dawn in Ziarat district, where gunmen attacked a remote police post, triggering a prolonged exchange of fire. The incident underscores persistent security challenges in Balochistan, where separatist insurgents and Islamist militant groups have intensified attacks on security personnel and state institutions in recent years.
Provincial government spokesperson Shahid Rind said a coordinated clearance operation involving the military, the Frontier Corps, Balochistan Police, the Counterterrorism Department, the Special Operations Wing and the Anti-Terrorism Force was launched following the assault.
According to Rind, security forces killed 15 militants during the operation and regained control of the area. He said the nine police officers killed included the station house officers of the Mangi and Kawas police stations, making it one of the deadliest attacks on the provincial police force in recent months.
Rind said eight police personnel who had been abducted during the attack later reached the Kach police station safely, while another constable was rescued during the security operation.
He said the authorities would continue intelligence-based operations across the province, adding that there would be no safe haven for militants seeking to challenge the authority of the state.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack in a statement issued by his office, paying tribute to the police officers killed in the line of duty and expressing condolences to their families.
Sharif said the attack demonstrated that those responsible were opposed to peace, development and prosperity in Balochistan. He reiterated the government’s commitment to continuing operations against militant groups until they were eliminated and said no one would be allowed to undermine stability in the province.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the assault.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by area and rich in natural resources, has long faced an insurgency led by separatist groups seeking greater autonomy or independence. The province has also witnessed attacks by Islamist militant organizations, making it one of the country’s most volatile regions.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused India of supporting militant groups operating in Balochistan, an allegation New Delhi has consistently denied.
The latest attack follows a series of deadly assaults targeting security forces and civilians in the province, reflecting the continuing challenge faced by Pakistani authorities in containing militancy despite ongoing counterterrorism operations.
