ISLAMABAD: ISPR Claims 12 Militants Killed in Balochistan on August 5–6
Pakistan’s military has claimed that 12 armed militants were killed during operations in Balochistan on August 5 and 6.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, the operations on August 5 and 6 were part of a series of intelligence-based operations (IBOs).
ISPR stated that on August 5, security forces detected the movement of six militants in Washuk, Balochistan. In a “timely and effective” operation, security forces killed all six.
The ISPR further claimed that on August 6, a separate operation in Mastung led to an intense exchange of fire between security forces and militants, resulting in the deaths of six more fighters.
The military’s media wing added that a militant hideout was also destroyed during the operation.
It is noteworthy that ISPR’s claims have been rejected by the families of most of those killed. The families maintain that their loved ones had been forcibly disappeared by Pakistani forces and were in military custody at the time of the alleged operation. Human rights organizations have also disputed ISPR’s account, similarly asserting that the men killed had already been forcibly disappeared and held in custody prior to their deaths.
