Web Desk (MNN); Security forces eliminated at least three militants on Sunday in a counter-operation following a suicide attack at the main entrance of Frontier Corps (FC) headquarters in Nokkundi, Balochistan. According to the FC Balochistan South spokesperson, the attackers belonged to Fitna-al-Khawarij, a term officially used for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The spokesperson stated that one assailant detonated himself at the gate, after which the quick response unit engaged and shot down three more attackers. A clearance operation was launched immediately and authorities said the remaining intruders would also be dealt with soon.
Initial reports suggested that as many as six armed militants managed to enter the FC compound after the first explosion. The operation was still under way past midnight, with no further casualties reported.
While the Nokkundi operation continued, militants also attacked a security checkpost in Panjgurās Gurmakan area.
Pakistan has seen a renewed rise in militant attacks ā especially in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ā since the TTP called off its ceasefire with the government in November 2022.
This latest escalation came a day after seven explosions struck Quetta and Dera Murad Jamali. One blast damaged a railway track near Quetta, disrupting train services to other parts of the country.
The first attack took place near a police post on Qambrani Road, where unidentified men threw a grenade. Another blast followed shortly after on the same road when a motorcycle fitted with an IED was detonated remotely as a CTD vehicle passed, though no casualties occurred.
Officials confirmed two more explosions later that evening. One damaged the main railway line near Lohr Karez, while another grenade attack at Manzoor Shaheed Police Station was foiled as the device failed to explode and was later defused. A similar grenade assault in the Kechi Beg area injured no one.
In Dera Murad Jamali, attackers also attempted to target a police vehicle with a grenade, but the device did not detonate. Later, armed assailants attacked a construction companyās camp in Quettaās Sariab locality.
