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BalochisTan declares ‘all-ouT war’ againsT TerrorisTs: achakzai Monday, 2 October, 2023 I 15 Rabi ul Awwal, 1445
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NO APPEASEMENT OR CONCESSION
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SAYS TERROR INCIDENTS BEING OCCURRED ACROSS COUNTRY ‘DAILY ON A SET PATTERN’
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STAFF REPORT
WO days after the deadly Mastung suicide bombing that claimed 60 lives, Caretaker Balochistan Information Minister Jan Achakzai on Sunday said “enough is enough and declared an all-out war”, reiterating the resolve the state would defend each and every inch of its territory with “an iron fist.” Addressing a press conference here, Jan Achakzai asserted that terrorist incidents were occurring in all of the country “daily and it has a set pattern”, questioning why such attacks were only happening in Pakistan and not other regional countries. “This means there is a mastermind behind it who is systematically destabilising us. Enough is enough. Now there will be no appeasement or concession … we declare all-out war on these terrorists.” During a press conference in Quetta on Sunday, Jan Achakzai was asked about any grand operation in the wake of terrorist attacks in the province. The minister said he could not comment on that but reassured that the state would defend each and every inch of its territory and carry out intelligence-based operations if needed. On the other hand, the death toll from the Mastung suicide blast rose to 60 on Sunday with four victims are still said to be in a critical condition. It has been reported that 18 victims are still admitted to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) and three others are getting treatment at Civil Hospital. The Quetta’s Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) registered a first information report (FIR) of the case. A powerful suicide blast had rocked Balochistan’s Mastung district on Friday. On Friday, a suicide bomber ripped through a procession celebrating the birth of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) on 12 Rabiul Awwal in Mastung, killing a police officer, religious leaders and children among dozens with the death toll at 59. No militant group, however, has claimed responsibility for the bombing, prompting claims from the government that the Indian intelligence agency, RAW, was involved. The banned TTP, in fact, distanced itself from the carnage in a statement and the Counter-Terrorism Department registered a case against unidentified persons. A day earlier, Chief of Army
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SHUTDOWN OBSERVED THROUGHOUT PROVINCE AGAINST MASTUNG CARNAGE
Staff General Asim Munir had said terrorists and facilitators behind the attacks on 12th Rabiul Awwal were “proxies of the enemies of Pakistan and its people”. He further said: “Pakistan’s resolve is very important. It (Mastung incident) is such a case where we won’t say that we will go after [only terrorist] operatives and foot soldiers. “We will go after their masterminds, the lynchpins managing all these proxies and will ensure that we will go wherever they are holed up, drag them out and take revenge for each and every martyr.” He said the state’s resolve to combat terrorism was strengthened by “1000 per cent” after the Mastung carnage, adding that the state was ready to go to any extent required. “If there is a need to do operations in
every inch of territory then we will do them,” Achakzai said. “If there are links [to terrorism] in Pakistan with our neighbouring country, and it seems [that way because] we have clear evidence of Indian state terrorism in Balochistan in the recent past. “If these links are found there [in Balochistan] today as well then we will make sure that our enemies are cut by thousands.” The information minister also said the families of the martyrs would be provided financial aid and not left disappointed. Detailing the financial package for the victims, Achakzai said every martyr’s family would be given Rs1.5 million, Rs0.5m would be distributed to the critically injured and Rs0.2m to the nominally injured by the provincial government.
MIANWALI
Department (CTD) managed to thwart an attack led by 12 to 15 terrorists during which Head Constable Haroon Khan was martyred. “Multiple suspected terrorists were injured and at least two were killed in the operation which started at around 11.45pm on Saturday night and concluded at around 7.45am on Sunday morning”, the statement said. ‘Terrorists identified’ The CTD identified one of the deceased terrorists as: Zubair Nawaz, brother of Arshad Nawaz, the ameer of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) Tipu Group of Lakki Marwat. The identification process was completed with the aid of CTD’s database and local intelligence. Zubair Nawaz was a high-priority suspect who was on the mostwanted lists in both Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) provinces due to his involvement in the killings of police officers and Shia community members besides dacoities and extortion activities, according to law enforcement authorities. Meanwhile, the second deceased suspected terrorist was identified as a “dedicated member of the group who proved to be even more dangerous than Zubair,” read the statement. His identification was carried out through exhaustive efforts, including assistance from NADRA, various intelligence agencies and advanced software used by the CTD.
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Two terrorists killed, cop martyred in attack on Mianwali patrolling post STAFF REPORT
Two terrorists were killed and a police constable embraced martyrdom during a more than four-hour-long operation after a group of terrorists attacked the Punjab Highway Patrolling Police (PHP) Post in Mianwali, Punjab police chief Usman Anwar said in a statement. “The personnel of Kundal Punjab Highway Patrolling Post, assisted by the Counter-Terrorism Department thwarted, in a daring operation, the attack by 12 to 15 terrorists last night at approximately 23:45 hours,” it stated. A third terrorist sustained severe wounds and was caught in injured condition. According to a Punjab Police spokesman, a group of more than 10 terrorists attacked PHP’s Kundal patrolling post in Eisa Khel, Mainwali in the wee hours of Sunday. The attack ensued a gun battle that lasted more than four hours and PHP officials repulsed the attack, foiling the terrorists attempt to enter the patrolling post’s building. The firing left two suspects dead and PHP head constable Haroon Khan martyred. Khan suffered bullet wound in his eye. The spokesman further said the gun battle ensued for about four hours and PHP officials repulsed the attack. According to a statement issued by law enforcement authorities, the Punjab Counter-Terrorism
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