ISLAMABAD (Web-Desk); A Pakistan Army officer embraced martyrdom while three terrorists were neutralized during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Balochistan’s Awaran district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed on Wednesday.
The operation was launched after reports of the presence of terrorists linked to an Indian proxy network, referred to by officials as “Fitna al-Hindustan.”
According to the military’s media wing, security forces launched the IBO based on credible intelligence and effectively targeted the identified location.
During the operation, a fierce exchange of fire took place, resulting in the elimination of three terrorists. However, in the line of duty, Major Syed Rabnawaz Tariq, aged 34 and a resident of Muzaffarabad, was martyred while bravely leading his troops from the front.
Following the clash, a sanitisation operation was launched to clear the area of any remaining threats. The ISPR reiterated Pakistan’s firm resolve to eradicate Indian-sponsored terrorism from its soil, emphasizing that such sacrifices by the armed forces only strengthen national determination and unity.
Meanwhile, Balochistan witnessed another tragic incident on the same day when a passenger bus traveling from Karachi to Quetta came under a brutal terrorist attack near a check-post in Kalat district.
Unidentified gunmen, positioned atop surrounding hills, opened fire on the coach near Nemargh Cross and subsequently hurled hand grenades, killing three passengers and injuring seven others. The attack marked the second such incident within a week in the restive province, where civilian casualties due to terrorist activities have surged in recent months.
According to officials, the exact number of passengers aboard the bus remains unclear, but vehicles on this route typically carry between 40 to 50 people. Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind confirmed that security and rescue teams responded swiftly, transporting the injured to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Kalat, where an emergency was declared.
He added that security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to apprehend the attackers, who had closed off the road from both sides before ambushing the vehicle.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned both acts of terrorism, which he said bore the hallmark of “Fitna al-Hindustan.” Offering prayers for the martyrs and extending condolences to the affected families, the premier vowed that such barbaric assaults on innocent civilians would not go unpunished. He directed authorities to ensure the best possible medical care for the injured and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eliminate terrorism from the country.
President Asif Ali Zardari echoed similar sentiments, describing the attack as a cowardly attempt to undermine peace and stability in Pakistan. He stressed that those who target unarmed civilians are enemies of humanity and that the state would take decisive action against them. He also instructed authorities to provide immediate medical attention to the victims.
These developments follow a string of recent terrorist incidents in Balochistan, including the brutal killing of nine passengers from Punjab who were abducted and shot dead in the Sur-Dakai area along the Zhob-Loralai border.
Assistant Commissioner Naveed Alam stated that the attackers, again believed to be affiliated with Fitna al-Hindustan, forcibly removed the victims from two buses before executing them.
Reacting to the wave of violence, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti stated that the killers of innocent civilians deserved no mercy and would be hunted down relentlessly. He pledged that justice would be served, and peace restored in the troubled province.
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also paid tribute to Major Syed Rabnawaz Tariq, hailing him as a national hero who thwarted the enemy’s malicious plans with courage and sacrifice. “His martyrdom will not go in vain,” Naqvi said, adding that such sacrifices are the foundation of Pakistan’s fight for peace and sovereignty
