Six Militants Killed in Kachhi Operation, Say Security Sources
Six Militants Killed in Kachhi Operation, Say Security Sources
QUETTA: Security forces killed six militants affiliated with Fitna al-Hindustan during an intelligence-based operation in the Sanni area of Kachhi district, Balochistan, on Thursday, security sources said.
The operation was carried out under Operation Radd-ul-Fitan 3. According to the sources, the militants were engaged with the help of quadcopters, and a substantial cache of weapons and ammunition was recovered from them. A clearance operation was continuing in the area to locate any remaining militants and secure the surrounding region.
What happened in the Kachhi Balochistan operation
The action was based on intelligence about the presence of militants in the area, the sources said. Security personnel targeted the suspected positions, and the six militants were killed during the engagement.
The militants were identified as affiliates of Fitna al-Hindustan, the state’s term for Balochistan-based militant groups. The weapons and ammunition recovered from the site are expected to yield further leads about the group’s network in the district.
Other operations carried out the same day
The Kachhi action was one of several carried out the same day. Two militants were killed during an operation in Nok Kacha in Chagai district, where security personnel also recovered weapons and ammunition and destroyed militant hideouts.
In the Bara area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, five militants affiliated with Fitna al-Khawarij were killed in another intelligence-based operation.
A separate operation in North Waziristan destroyed several militant hideouts and tunnels and led to the recovery of a large quantity of explosives. The explosives found during the search were neutralised with the help of the bomb disposal squad, and multiple militants were reportedly killed, according to security sources.
Earlier, 11 militants affiliated with Fitna al-Hindustan were killed in operations on August 31 in connection with acts of sabotage, the sources said.
A continuing counterterrorism campaign
Security sources said the operations form part of the wider counterterrorism campaign under Operation Radd-ul-Fitan 3, aimed at militant hideouts, weapons stores and suspected networks in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Balochistan has seen a series of security operations in recent weeks following attacks on security forces and other targets across the province. Authorities say the intelligence-led operations are meant to disrupt militant networks and stop further attacks.
Where did the Kachhi Balochistan operation take place?
Security forces acted in the Sanni area of Kachhi district in Balochistan during an intelligence-based operation on Thursday.
How many militants were killed in the Kachhi operation?
Six militants affiliated with Fitna al-Hindustan were killed, according to security sources. Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the site.
What is Operation Radd-ul-Fitan 3?
It is the latest phase of Pakistan’s intelligence-based counterterrorism campaign in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, targeting militant hideouts and networks.
Were other operations carried out the same day?
Yes. Security sources also reported operations in Chagai district and Bara in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as well as in North Waziristan, in which militants were killed and hideouts destroyed.
