Major military operation in Balochistan, 5 killed – Bangladesh Diplomat

Five people were killed in a military operation in Pakistan's conflict-ridden Balochistan province. Three people were injured. The operation is being conducted on the basis of intelligence information. Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has informed this on Friday.

Dozens of fighters of the banned separatist organization Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) carried out a series of attacks across Balochistan last Sunday midnight. Apart from the security forces, they also targeted civilians.

At least 50 people including 14 members of the security forces were killed in that attack. The separatist fighters attacked the police station that day, looted weapons, uprooted railway lines and set three dozen vehicles on fire. At that time, 21 fighters were killed in the fight with the security forces.

Among the dead are 23 migrant workers from Punjab province. They were killed one by one after seeing their identity cards from trucks and vans in Musakheil area.

Referring to the incident of the attack, the statement of the ISPR said that the security forces are conducting a large-scale operation based on intelligence information to suppress the masterminds of the brutal incident.

Balochistan Inspector General of Police transferred
Meanwhile, Balochistan Inspector General of Police Abdul Khaliq Sheikh was removed last Wednesday after the attack by the separatist fighters. Moazzam Jah Ansari has been transferred in his place.

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif issued a stern warning after a series of attacks by separatist fighters in Balochistan. He said in the cabinet meeting of the central government on Tuesday, 'We have to move forward with a firm decision. There is no opportunity to show weakness here.'

Abduction of army officer with two brothers
A senior army officer was abducted along with his two brothers while attending his father's funeral in Pakistan's Dera Ismail Khan district. They were abducted from a local mosque last Tuesday. The police confirmed the matter the next day.

Of the two abducted brothers of the army officer, one worked at the Cantonment Board headquarters in Rawalpindi and the other was an employee of the National Database and Registration Authority.

It is known that the three brothers went to their ancestral home last Tuesday to participate in their father's funeral. Local residents gathered at the mosque to offer their condolences. At one point some people forcefully took them out of the mosque.

Kulachi police confirmed the truth of the incident. However, the higher authorities neither admitted nor denied the incident. No group claimed responsibility for the incident.

The tribal-dominated Dera Ismail Khel area along the Afghan border is known as a safe haven for militants. There are frequent attacks on members of the security forces. The government has been blaming Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for this.