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Pakistan Says 197 Militants Killed in Balochistan Crackdown After Coordinated Attacks

Authorities report ongoing follow-up sweeps alongside an investigation into alleged foreign sponsorship that India rejects.

Overview

  • Security sources report 197 suspected militants killed over three days, with 22 security personnel and 36 civilians dead after assaults across Quetta, Nushki, Mastung, Gwadar and other districts.
  • Police say helicopters and drones helped retake Nushki following a multi-day standoff, as clearance and sanitisation operations continue across several hotspots.
  • Movement and communications curbs remain in place in parts of Balochistan, including Section 144 restrictions, heightened checkpoints and temporary mobile internet suspensions.
  • Pakistan’s National Assembly unanimously condemned the attacks and urged an aggressive, coordinated response while raising concerns about Indian involvement; New Delhi called the allegations baseless.
  • Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said forces are “physically handicapped” by Balochistan’s vast terrain, ruled out talks with the BLA and pointed to a criminal-smuggling nexus, as investigations probe cross-border linkages and contested casualty claims persist.