Pakistan army links Balochistan attacks to handlers in India, Afghanistan 

QUETTA/KARACHI: The Pakistani navy mentioned on Thursday its intelligence had linked current twin assaults on Frontier Corps bases within the southwestern Balochistan province to handlers in India and Afghanistan. 

The assaults in Panjgur and Naushki that killed at the very least seven troops on Wednesday evening had been claimed by the separatist Balochistan Liberation Military, which mentioned it had used suicide bombers to enter the bases. 

Pakistan has been for years accusing India of covertly supporting the insurgents. India denies the claims.  

“As per preliminary investigation, intelligence companies have intercepted communications between terrorists and their handlers in Afghanistan and India,” the Pakistani navy mentioned in an announcement. 

“After efficiently repulsing terrorist assaults at Panjgur and Naushki yesterday evening, Safety Forces carried out clearance operation to search out terrorists hiding within the space.” 

It mentioned 13 militants had been killed throughout a safety operation following the assault.  

Native authorities mentioned the operation was nonetheless underway in Panjgur. 

“Safety forces are conducting search operations proper now in numerous pockets of town the place they imagine terrorists could also be current,” Shabbir Mengal, commissioner of the Makran division, advised Arab Information.  

Ghulam Mustafa of the Balochistan Levies Pressure mentioned the forces had blocked the roads main towards the military’s compound, as a curfew was in place. 

“We’re nonetheless listening to gunfire from contained in the Frontier Corps’ headquarters sporadically,” he added.

Police in Naushki additionally mentioned a whole curfew had been imposed within the metropolis. 

Station Home Officer Khalid Badini advised Arab Information he had heard explosions this morning whereas a clearance operation was carried out contained in the Frontier Corps’ headquarters. He mentioned one civilian was killed throughout Wednesday’s assault. 

Separatists have been preventing safety forces for years within the province over what they see as unfair exploitation of its huge mineral wealth. Additionally they declare safety forces have pushed them to take up arms due to a protracted historical past of human rights abuses in opposition to the Baloch folks, which authorities within the province have vehemently denied. 

Insurgents are additionally against, and assault, tasks linked to China’s Belt and Street Initiative within the resource-rich province. 

The US in 2019 categorised the Balochistan Liberation Military as a terrorist group.