Pakistani security forces said they killed 15 militants during a large-scale clearance operation after an overnight assault on a police post in the southwestern province of Balochistan left nine police officers dead and several others injured or abducted.
The attack occurred before dawn in the remote Ziarat district, where heavily armed militants stormed a police checkpoint, triggering an intense gun battle with security personnel.
Provincial government spokesperson Shahid Rind said the subsequent operation involved the military, the Frontier Corps, Balochistan Police, the Counterterrorism Department, the Special Operations Wing and the Anti Terrorism Force.
Rind said the joint operation ended with the deaths of 15 militants.
Among the officers killed were the station house officers of the Mangi and Kawas police stations.
He added that eight police officers who had been abducted during the attack later reached the Kach police station safely, while another officer was rescued during the security operation.
Authorities are still searching for additional missing personnel.
“The terrorists have paid a heavy price for attempting to disrupt peace in Balochistan,” Rind said, adding that intelligence driven operations against militant groups would continue throughout the province.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, describing those responsible as enemies of peace and development.
In a statement issued by his office, Sharif expressed condolences to the families of the fallen officers and pledged that security forces would continue operations against militant organizations until they were dismantled.
No group immediately claimed responsibility following the attack.
However, Reuters cited local officials as saying the Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the assault.
Deputy Police Commissioner Abdul Qudoos Achakzai told Reuters that five police officers remained missing following the attack.
The Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan is separate from Afghanistan’s Taliban government and has carried out a prolonged insurgency against the Pakistani state.
Pakistani authorities maintain that many leaders and fighters of the group operate from neighboring Afghanistan, an allegation the Afghan government has repeatedly rejected.
Pakistan has also accused India of supporting militant organizations operating in Balochistan, a claim New Delhi has consistently denied.
What We Know So Far
The attack targeted a police post in Ziarat district before dawn, leading to a prolonged exchange of gunfire between militants and security personnel.
Nine police officers were killed during the assault, including two senior station commanders.
Pakistani security forces later launched a coordinated clearance operation that officials said resulted in the deaths of 15 militants.
Eight abducted officers were recovered safely, while authorities continue efforts to locate additional missing personnel.
Reuters reported that the Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack, although Pakistani authorities had not officially confirmed the claim.
What Authorities Are Saying
Provincial spokesperson Shahid Rind said the operation demonstrated the government’s determination to prevent militant groups from destabilizing Balochistan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the sacrifices of the fallen officers and vowed that security operations would continue until militant organizations are eliminated.
Security officials also pledged to intensify intelligence based operations across the province to prevent future attacks.
Why This Matters
The latest assault highlights the persistent security challenges facing Pakistan’s largest province, where separatist movements and militant organizations continue to target security forces, government institutions and infrastructure.
Balochistan has experienced decades of insurgency fueled by separatist groups seeking greater autonomy or independence, alongside attacks carried out by extremist organizations including the Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan.
The province also occupies strategic importance because it borders both Iran and Afghanistan and hosts major infrastructure projects linked to regional trade and energy development.
Continued attacks threaten not only domestic security but also economic projects and foreign investment, particularly initiatives associated with regional transport and energy corridors.
The differing militant groups operating in Balochistan also complicate Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts, requiring simultaneous responses to separatist violence and religious extremism.
What Happens Next
Security forces are expected to continue search operations across Ziarat district to locate any remaining militants and determine whether additional suspects were involved in planning the attack.
Investigators are also expected to examine how the militants were able to penetrate the police post and whether security measures require strengthening.
The latest violence is likely to prompt renewed counterterrorism operations across Balochistan as Pakistan seeks to contain escalating attacks against security personnel and public institutions.
Sources: The Associated Press (AP); Reuters; Arab News
