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| Security forces personnel are patrolling a street in Pakistan. |
In separate operations in Pakistan's Balochistan province's Kalat district, 23 terrorists were killed. Earlier, on Friday night, during an operation in Mangochar city, terrorists attempted to block the road, leading to the deaths of 18 members of the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC). The country's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported this information on Saturday.
According to ISPR, the cowardly terrorist attack, carried out at the behest of enemy forces, aimed to disrupt the peaceful environment of the province and primarily target innocent civilians.
Following the attack, security forces and law enforcement agencies were immediately deployed, thwarting the terrorists' plot.
Initially, 12 terrorists were killed in the operation, ensuring the security of local residents, ISPR stated. However, they also confirmed that "18 brave sons of the nation fought valiantly and were martyred" during this operation. Subsequently, another operation in Harnai district on Saturday resulted in the killing of 11 more terrorists.
This brought the total number of terrorists killed to 23.
ISPR affirmed that the operation would continue until the planners and accomplices of this cowardly attack are brought to justice. They added, "The security forces are determined to thwart any attempts to disrupt Balochistan's peace, stability, and progress. The sacrifice of our brave soldiers has further strengthened our resolve."
Meanwhile, Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep sorrow and grief over the deaths of the 18 security personnel. A press release from the President's Office stated that he paid tribute to the martyrs and prayed for their high status, also praying for patience for the bereaved families.
This incident occurred at a time when, just the previous day, security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province had killed 10 terrorists in five separate operations, according to ISPR on Friday.
Violence in Pakistan has increased, particularly in the border provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan in 2021.
The year 2024 was the deadliest in a decade for Pakistan's civilian and military forces. According to the annual security report by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), at least 685 security personnel were killed, and 444 terrorist attacks occurred in Pakistan in 2024.
The CRSS report further stated that a total of 1,612 people, including civilians and security personnel, were killed in 2024, making up 63% of the year's total fatalities. Meanwhile, 934 terrorists were killed, marking a 73% increase compared to 2023. Additionally, 2,546 people were killed and 2,267 injured in violent incidents in Pakistan in 2024, including civilians, security forces, and terrorists.
Compared to 2023, the rate of fatalities due to violence in 2024 increased by 66%, the highest in the past nine years. On average, about seven people were killed daily. November was the deadliest month of the year.
This violence had the greatest impact on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where 1,616 people were killed, followed by Balochistan, with 782 deaths.
In 2024, Pakistan witnessed a total of 1,166 incidents of terrorist attacks and counterterrorism operations, marking it as a grim year for the country's security situation.
Source: Geo News
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