Pakistan: Hindu Trader Killed in Balochistan, Police Station Destroyed, Tehsil Office Torched

Quetta (Terror Monitor) — A Hindu trader was shot dead in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province, while a police station in Pishin was destroyed with explosives and a tehsil office in Kachhi was set on fire in separate incidents of violence across the province. Meanwhile, Pakistani security forces have claimed to have killed 49 militants in separate operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

In Nushki district, unidentified armed men opened fire on Rakesh, a trader belonging to the Hindu community, in a market.

Police said Rakesh had opened his shop on Anam Boastan Road in the evening when armed men opened fire on him. He sustained critical injuries and later died.

Authorities said the motive behind the attack remains unknown. A special investigation committee has been formed to identify the attackers and investigate the incident.

Meanwhile, unidentified armed men reportedly took control of a police station in Saranan, Pishin district, before destroying it with explosives. No casualties were reported in the attack.

The banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack. Saranan is an area of Pishin district, north of Quetta, and the incident has been described locally as unusual in nature.

The Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party condemned the incidents of unrest in Saranan, Ziarat, Sanjavi and Harnai and called for effective security arrangements in sensitive areas.

In another incident, unidentified armed men set fire to a tehsil office in Khatun area of Kachhi district. Police said the attack damaged the office and government records kept inside, but no casualties were reported.

49 Militants Killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan

Meanwhile, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of Pakistan’s military, said security forces killed 49 militants during joint operations with police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

According to the ISPR, several intelligence-based operations were conducted over the past few days targeting militant networks.

The military said 12 militants were killed during operations in Bannu, North Waziristan, Orakzai and Khyber districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In Balochistan, 37 militants were killed during 10 operations in Mastung, Mach, Khuzdar and Panjgur districts, according to the ISPR.

The military said a large quantity of explosives, remote-control devices used to detonate improvised explosive devices (IEDs), weapons, ammunition and motorcycles were also recovered during the operations.

Security officials said those killed included individuals affiliated with the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). The claims could not be independently verified.

Asim Munir Calls for Peace and Stability in Balochistan

Separately, Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir discussed the security situation in Balochistan during a meeting with prominent figures and political leaders from the province.

According to the ISPR, Field Marshal Asim Munir said the present and future of Balochistan and Pakistan are interconnected and that this relationship would remain intact.

He said Balochistan was home to talented, resilient, patriotic and dignified people, adding that the province’s youth had significant potential and opportunities.

The Chief of Defence Forces said attempts to create instability in the country would be defeated through the collective resolve of the nation and a firm and decisive response by the state.

According to the ISPR, Field Marshal Asim Munir alleged that externally backed proxy elements were being used to create instability in Balochistan, obstruct the province’s development and create a divide between the state and the people.

He described young people as an active and promising segment of society and said the state would continue its response against such elements.