Security forces recovered 23 abducted people and multiple vehicles during an operation against militants attempting to disrupt traffic on the N-25 highway near Kalat.
KALAT: Security forces killed five terrorists and recovered 23 abducted people during an operation near Kalat after militants attempted to establish a check post along the N-25 Karachi-Chaman highway, the military’s media wing said Sunday.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operation was conducted during the night of Sept. 18-19 after the militants attempted to disrupt the movement of people along the national highway.
The militants were allegedly trying to establish a check post to abduct passengers for ransom, carry out extortion and seize vehicles, according to the military’s account. Security forces responded to the threat, leading to an intense exchange of fire in which five terrorists were killed, ISPR said.
The forces also recovered 23 abducted people from a militant hideout near Kalat. Six trucks, three buses and two cars were recovered from the site, while a large quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosives was also seized, according to ISPR.
Following the operation, sanitisation operations were launched in surrounding areas to locate any remaining militants and ensure the safety of local residents and traffic along the national highway, the military said.
ISPR identified the militants as belonging to what the Pakistani state calls Fitna-al-Hindustan and described the group as an India-sponsored proxy. That characterization is an official Pakistani position; India has rejected allegations that it sponsors militancy in Balochistan.
The Kalat operation comes amid continued security operations in Balochistan. ISPR has reported several recent actions against militants in the province, including operations in Kalat, Mastung, Quetta, Sibi, Panjgur, Chagai and other districts.
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