The Pakistani army has announced that during operations by its forces in Balochistan province over the past four days, at least 71 people whom Islamabad calls “terrorists” have been killed.
The Pakistani army said in a statement on Sunday, September 27 (Mizan 5), that these individuals were members of the groups “Fitna al-Khawarij” and “Fitna al-Hindustan” — terms the country uses for Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).
According to the statement, in two separate operations, 56 people were killed in the Shaban area of Quetta, and 11 others were killed in another operation in the Nushki district.
The Pakistani army added that six other members of “Fitna al-Hindustan” were also killed in an operation in the Mand area.
Islamabad has claimed that groups linked to the Afghan Taliban, with India’s support, are involved in terrorist attacks inside Pakistan, and that these activities are a threat to peace and stability in the region.
Pakistan has previously also attacked targets in several Afghan provinces, claiming that its soil is being used against the country. The Taliban have rejected this claim and say they do not allow any group to use Afghan soil against other countries.
