Pakistani security forces, employing military helicopters, have killed 75 insurgents during operations in the restive Balochistan province. Officials stated Friday that the operations targeted an outlawed separatist group accused of a recent surge in attacks against troops, police, and civilians.
The announcement followed a visit by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Quetta, the provincial capital, where he assured the families of 42 victims killed in recent attacks that their sacrifices would not be in vain and that perpetrators would face justice.
This week's violence has fueled concerns that separatist groups, previously considered minor, are expanding their operational reach. According to the Balochistan government, the security operations, involving the army, Frontier Corps, and police, commenced late Monday. The action was initiated after dozens of fighters from the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) attacked a police post near the Mangi Dam, a critical water source for Quetta and surrounding areas. The initial assault resulted in the deaths of nine police officers and 15 attackers. An additional 18 police officers abducted during the incident were later found blindfolded and dead in nearby mountains.
Pakistan has previously alleged that both the BLA and the Pakistani Taliban utilize sanctuaries in Afghanistan and receive support from India, claims that Kabul and New Delhi have denied.
The Pakistani government has approved compensation of 11.1 million rupees, approximately $39,000, for the family of each police officer killed in the attacks.
Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province by area but least populated, has a history of separatist movements led by ethnic Baloch groups advocating for greater autonomy or independence. The province has also experienced attacks by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a group distinct from but allied with the Afghan Taliban.