Balochistan government spokesman Shahid Rind, flanked by provincial officials, briefs the media on security operations and the government’s response to recent militant activity in Balochistan. PHOTO: PTV (Screenshot)
QUETTA:
The Balochistan government announced on Thursday that internet services in the provincial capital will be restored tonight following a series of coordinated terrorist attacks that left hundreds of terrorists dead and disrupted communications across the region.
Balochistan witnessed a series of coordinated attacks in several places in the province over the weekend. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), 92 terrorists were killed on Saturday as security forces repelled the attacks. The death toll rose as operations continued across the province, bringing the total number of terrorists killed to at least 216.
On Thursday, the security forces finished successfully Operation Radd-ul-Fitna-1 in Balochistan, conducting a series of coordinated, intelligence-based operations against what the military described as Indian-sponsored terrorist elements, the ISPR said.
Read: Security forces end operations after terror attacks in Balochistan
Addressing a press conference on the security situation today, provincial government spokesman Shahid Rind clarified that most of Quetta would see internet services return today. “In areas where search or combing operations are underway, the internet may be slightly disrupted and there may be interference, but Quetta’s internet will be restored tonight.”
Rind, detailing the fallout from the August 31 attacks, revealed that 216 terrorists were killed in retaliatory actions by security forces. The violence, which targeted 12 separate locations, including Quetta and Noshki, also resulted in the martyrdom of 36 civilians and 22 security personnel. Among the neutralized attackers were two female militants while three female civilians were martyred during the Gwadar attack.
He defended the delay in the security forces’ response, saying the operation took time because of concerns over collateral damage. “For the first few hours, the biggest problem we faced in responding was that they were mixed in with the general public and there was a risk of collateral damage, which of course causes some delay. Noshki was a place where we faced some difficulties, and the root cause of the problem there too was to avoid collateral damage.”
Asked whether Quetta continued to face any threat, Rind said that in such situations, multiple threats were generated to which the security forces responded accordingly. He said some threats had also existed in the past related to such incidents and initiatives had already been taken to counter them.
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“At the time the red zone was attacked, it was not a situation where senior officers were present at their homes. The DIG CTD was personally spearheading the operation and the IG police was himself present there. It means that some threat or alert was received as a result of such senior officers being on the ground.”
Security Operations and Weapons Recovery
Rind explained that security forces responded to attacks in 12 different locations in the province. While most areas were cleared within the first day, Noshki remained a focal point. In Quetta, ongoing search operations have led to the detention of approximately 100 suspects who are currently under interrogation.
The spokesman noted a worrying trend in the weapons recovered from residential properties during these raids. “During these operations, not only small illegal arms were found, but RR (Recoilless Rifle) guns, anti-aircraft guns and RPGs were also seized from certain houses,” Rind said.
The government confirmed that militants targeted prisons in Noshki and Mastung, resulting in the escape of several under-trial prisoners and “serious criminals”. Rind stated that a “manhunt” was underway to apprehend the escapees and the warden of Noshki prison was now in a stable condition following the attack.
Addressing the identification of the slain terrorists, the spokesman issued a stern warning to families harboring terrorists. Echoing Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti’s earlier stance, he noted that families who failed to report children linked to terrorist organizations to the district administration or security agencies could face prosecution if a link is discovered.
Read more: Pakistan Railways restores Quetta train services after Balochistan attacks
Infrastructure and public services
Regarding the state of provincial connections, Rind informed that all national highways had been cleared, except for a section in Noshki that was damaged by bomb blasts. Repair crews were expected to restore the route within 12 to 24 hours.
Despite the volatility, the government maintained that essential services would continue. High school examinations for grades 8 and 9 in Quetta will proceed as scheduled and the provincial polio campaign will remain active in all areas except Noshki.
Read: ‘No one can rationalize terrorism under any pretext,’ says CDF Munir after Balochistan attacks
The provincial health minister, who was also present at the briefing, noted that a state of emergency remained in effect across health facilities. He added that the government launched a specialized mental health project to address the psychological trauma inflicted on the public by the recent wave of violence.
