Pakistani security forces kill 29 militants in Balochistan, say violence originating from Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD: Security forces in Pakistan lost one officer and killed 29 militants within the last month while carrying out intelligence-based operations in the country’s southwestern Balochistan province, an official statement said on Wednesday, adding the violence was generated by armed groups operating from Afghanistan.
Pakistan has blamed the Taliban administration in Kabul in recent months for not doing enough to clamp down on militant outfits that have allegedly taken sanctuary in the neighboring state.
The top official of the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said on May 7 a deadly suicide car bombing targeting Chinese nationals in Shangla earlier this year was also planned in “terrorist sanctuaries” in Afghanistan.
However, Afghan authorities denied the claim the very next day.
“Pakistan has witnessed a surge in terrorist incidents orchestrated from Afghan soil, wherein, terrorists from Afghanistan attempt to infiltrate through Pakistan-Afghanistan Border and target Security Forces as well as the innocent civilians,” the ISPR said in a statement.
“In this context, in addition to other areas along Pakistan-Afghanistan border, Security Forces are conducting operations in general area Sambaza in Zhob District of Balochistan, since 21 April 24,” it continued. “As a result of effective engagements, 29 terrorists have been successfully neutralized by the Security Forces in past one month. In the same series of operations, during an intelligence based operation on 14 May 2024, Maj Babar Khan also embraced Shahadat [martyrdom], while fighting gallantly.”
Balochistan is a strategically significant province where Pakistani and Chinese governments are jointly working on a series of infrastructure and regional connectivity projects. However, the area has also witnessed a low-level insurgency carried out by Baloch nationalist groups seeking independence from the central government in Islamabad.
The security situation in the province is further complicated by armed networks such as the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), whose leadership broke a fragile ceasefire with Pakistan in November 2022.
“Pakistan has consistently been asking Interim Afghan Government to ensure effective border management on their side,” the ISPR statement continued. “Interim Afghan Government is expected to fulfill its obligations and deny the use of Afghan Soil by terrorists for perpetuating acts of terrorism against Pakistan.”