Quetta, Pakistan:
At least ten alleged terrorists were killed in a major exchange of fire with Counter-terrorism Department (CTD) personnel in Quetta’s Aghbarg area on Wednesday, signaling a significant counter-insurgency operation in Pakistan’s volatile southwestern province of Balochistan.
A CTD spokesperson confirmed in a statement that the operation was launched following a reliable tip-off from intelligence agencies. “Upon reaching the area, they were attacked by the terrorists but promptly retaliated,” the spokesperson said. The ensuing gun battle resulted in the deaths of the ten individuals.
The CTD reported recovering heavy ammunition and weapons from the bodies of the deceased. According to the spokesperson, the militants were affiliated with a banned terrorist outfit and had a history of attacking security forces. However, the identities of the slain men have not yet been confirmed, and their bodies have been moved to a hospital for identification purposes as further investigation continues.
Escalating Security Crisis
This large-scale security development takes place just one day after a suicide car blast near the headquarters of the Frontier Corps (FC) in Quetta claimed the lives of ten people, including four security personnel.
The overall security situation in Balochistan has deteriorated markedly in recent months. Insurgents, long involved in a low-level insurgency, have significantly stepped up the frequency and intensity of their attacks. The banned so-called Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), in particular, has adopted new and more lethal tactics aimed at inflicting higher casualties and directly targeting Pakistani security forces. The operation highlights the authorities’ kinetic response to the persistent and growing threat of militant violence in the province.
