Operation Shaban toll increases to 52, nine additional militants killed

Nine more terrorists have been killed by the security forces during the ongoing Operation Shaban in Balochistan, bringing the total number of militants eliminated in the operation to 52, security sources said.

Security officials coordinating air and ground operations including the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps (FC) and police were still underway against militant hideouts across the province, state-run Pakistan Television said.

The latest operation has raised the overall number of militants killed since July 5, including in intelligence-based operations, to 88, security sources said.

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Officials stated the security operation will continue until all extremist networks in the area are eradicated.

The militants had targeted security personnel in the deadly attack on police post of Mangi Dam pumping station in Shaban area on July 5 leading to beginning of Operation Shaban.

In the same attack, nine police personnel including two station house officers (SHOs) were killed while 18 other cops were taken away at gunpoint. Their bodies were eventually found in the mountainous area of Zarheha Gar.

Earlier on Friday, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti claimed security personnel had successfully prevented an attempted militant attack on a police station in the Zedi region of Khuzdar district. “This is another example of the continued security response against militant threats,” Bugti said.