Heavy casualties in Noshki, Panjgur attacks

Security forces in Balochistan’s Noshki and Panjgur repulsed bomb and gun attacks on Wednesday night but the fighting resumed on Thursday when clearance operations were launched in the two areas. Heavy casualties have been reported since then.

Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed says 15 terrorists were killed in the two cities. Balochistan Forests Minister and Advisor to the CM on Interior Zia Langove has said that 12 soldiers and a civilian have also been killed and that the fighting continued as of 3pm Thursday.

A statement issued Thursday morning from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of Pakistan military, put the number of “terrorists” killed at 13.

It said nine soldiers, including an officer, embraced shahadat (martyrdom) in Noshki and Panjgur and four were injured.

Zia Langove said the forces had saved the two cities from massive destruction.

Addressing a press conference in Quetta, he said some of the terrorists had fled to the local market and were hold up there.

The ISPR has said that the attackers were in contact with their handlers in Afghanistan and India.

The locals have reported the mobile service outage in the area.

Panjur

The two attacks were launched almost simultaneously on Wednesday evening, targeting FC camps.

In Panjgur, the gunmen tried to enter a security forces’ camp from two directions, but the attack was repulsed and terrorists fled after suffering heavy casualties, according to an ISPR statement issued late Wednesday night.

It said the attackers suffered heavy casualties.

“After successfully repulsing terrorist attacks at Panjgur and Naushki yesterday night, Security Forces carried out clearance operation to hunt down terrorists hiding in the area,” said another statement on Thursday morning.

After the fighting resumed, four terrorists were killed while four to five holed up in the central market of the city and a gun battle ensued.

Langove said the markets could not open due to the fighting.

He said seven soldiers were martyred in Panjgur.

Noshki

In Noshki, terrorists launched the attack at FC camp at around 7pm Wednesday, the local security sources said.

Police, FC and Levies cordoned off the area and engaged the attackers.

There were loud explosions and gunfire.

Noshki Assistant Commissioner said that blasts shattered windows at several buildings including the offices of deputy commissioner and assistant commissioner, civil hospital and officers club.

He added that several terrorists stormed the compound and there was an exchange of fire between them and the security forces.

Four of the attackers were killed Wednesday night and five on Thursday morning after the clearance operation began, according to the ISPR statement.

Four soldiers, including an officer, embraced shahadat in Noshki, it said.

Langove said five soldiers were martyred and 12 injured here.

Indian connection

Authorities suspended mobile phone services in Noshki after it was found that the terrorists were in contact with their handlers.

The ISPR says the handlers were relying directions from Afghanistan and India.

Reports suggest the attackers were armed with the US made weapons and night vision goggles.

Langove also said that foreign elements were behind the terrorism.

Multiple militant groups have claimed responsibility for the attacks, Langove told the press conference. There were threats from ISIS and the so-called nationalists, he said.

He said Pakistan shares border with Afghanistan as well as Iran. Pakistan has communicated it concerns to Iran through the border management committee, he said.

Sheikh Rasheed

Earlier, Federal Interior Minister said nine terrorists were killed and four soldiers embraced martyrdom in Noshki.

In the second attack, six terrorists were killed in Panjgur, he added.

At least 15 terrorists were killed in two different attacks in Balochistan’s Panjgur and Nushki, said Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Thursday morning.

“Pakistan Army successfully repelled the two attacks,” he said https://t.co/stdQ4NXsWO pic.twitter.com/bHKl4iYF8f

— Samaa English (@SamaaEnglish) February 3, 2022

The interior minister said four to five other terrorists were still in the area and hopefully Pakistan Army will capture them.

PM lauds the response from forces

Prime Minister Imran Khan, on the other hand, has lauded the response by Pakistan Army.

“We salute our brave security forces who repulsed terrorist attacks against security forces’ camps in Panjgur and Naushki,” he tweeted. “The nation stands united behind our security forces who continue to give great sacrifices to protect us.”

The attacks come a week after ten soldiers were martyred on the night between January 25 and 26 in Kech district.

Another attack at the end of January left four people dead in the Sui tehsil of Dera Bugti district. The dead included a cousin of former minister Sarfaraz Bugti and levies personnel.

This is a developing story

Follow SAMAA English on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and watch live on YouTube.