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ASIF CALLS FOR ‘MASSIVE TROOP DEPLOYMENT’ IN BALOCHISTAN DUE TO ‘GRAVE SECURITY CHALLENGE’ Tuesday, 3 February, 2026 | 14 Sha’ban, 1447
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SAYS 177 TERRORISTS KILLED AS SECURITY FORCES CONTINUE LARGE-SCALE CLEARANCE OPERATIONS ACROSS BALOCHISTAN BLAMES SMUGGLING NEXUS, ALLEGES CRIMINAL NETWORKS OPERATING UNDER BANNED BLA BANNER
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 210 | 8 Pages | Karachi Edition
RULES OUT TALKS WITH MILITANTS, VOWS FORCEFUL RESPONSE TO FUTURE ATTACKS
OPPOSITION LEADER ACHAKZAI QUESTIONS INTELLIGENCE LAPSES, LINKS TERRORISM TO PAST POLICY CHOICES
Rana Sanaullah calls for national unity as Senate condemns Balochistan terror attacks ISLAMABAD
staff report
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ISLAMABAD Mian abrar
EFENCE Minister Khawaja Asif said on Monday that Pakistan was compelled to deploy large numbers of troops in Balochistan due to the province’s vast geographical expanse and the severity of the security situation, particularly in the wake of a recent spate of coordinated terrorist attacks. Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, Asif said Balochistan—which makes up over 40 percent of Pakistan’s total landmass—posed unique security challenges that could not be compared to those of densely populated urban centers. “Balochistan constitutes over 40 per cent of Pakistan geographically. To con-
trol it is far more difficult than a populated city or area, and it requires the deployment of massive forces,” he said. “Our troops are deployed there and are actively engaged, but they are physically constrained by the need to guard and patrol such a vast territory.” His remarks came a day after coordinated attacks were carried out at multiple locations across the province. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), terrorists of what it described as Indian-sponsored Fitna alHindustan launched assaults around Quetta, Mastung, Nushki, Dalbandin, Kharan, Panjgur, Tump, Gwadar and Pasni on Saturday. The military said security forces repelled the attacks, killing 92 terrorists during initial operations, while 15 security personnel were martyred. Security
Kazakhstan president set for two-day official trip to Pakistan ISLAMABAD
staff report
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah Khan on Monday urged all political parties to adopt a unified national stance against terrorism, declaring the perpetrators of recent attacks in Balochistan as “enemies of Pakistan” acting on the directives of “anti-Pakistan elements.” Speaking in the Senate while responding to opposition leader Raja Nasir Abbas, Sanaullah said around 177 terrorists had been eliminated in recent operations, while 17 law-enforcement personnel and 33 civilians were killed in the latest wave of violence. “These elements cannot be portrayed as angry or aggrieved groups,” he said, adding that the attacks reflected organised militancy, not isolated criminal acts. Providing a breakdown of casualties among security forces, Sanaullah said 10 police personnel, six Frontier
sources later said that 22 more terrorists were killed during overnight follow-up actions, bringing the total number of militants killed over the past three days to at least 177. Asif told the House that
Corps members and one Levies official were among those martyred. He said civilians were killed when terrorists stormed homes and residential areas. Sanaullah said militants had repeatedly stopped buses, checked passengers’ identity cards and executed people in front of their families, including women and children. He cited similar brutality in attacks on trains, including the Jaffar Express, where passengers were taken hostage, humiliated and killed. “These are acts of extreme savagery that no sane human being can justify,” he said, rejecting the narrative that the attackers were merely disgruntled elements. He also claimed that after recent operations, bodies of killed terrorists were forcibly taken from hospitals in Quetta, raising questions about the motives of those claiming to speak for “rights”. He added that security forces had foiled attempts to breach the Quetta Red Zone and neutralised terrorists wherever they attempted to operate.
16 security personnel and 33 civilians had lost their lives during the recent violence, underlining the gravity of the threat facing the province.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
Field Marshal Asim Munir reaffirms Pakistan–Libya defence ties RAWALPINDI
staff Correspondent
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will reach Islamabad on Tuesday for his first official visit to Pakistan, a trip viewed as an effort to advance bilateral engagement and regional cooperation. According to the Foreign Office spokesperson, President Tokayev is undertaking the visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. Officials describe the trip as an important diplomatic exchange between the two countries. They say the visit demonstrates a shared intention to expand cooperation across various sectors. The Kazakh leader will be accompanied by a high-level delegation made up of senior cabinet ministers and other leading officials. The participation of key decision makers is expected to support discussions on strategic and economic collaboration. The delegation’s presence signals Kazakhstan’s interest in strengthening engagement with Pakistan at both governmental and institutional levels. During his stay, President Tokayev is expected to meet President Asif Ali Zardari and hold talks with Prime Minister Sharif. The meetings will review the current status of bilateral ties and consider additional areas of mutual cooperation. President Tokayev is also scheduled to address the Pakistan-Kazakhstan Business Forum, where business representatives and investors from both countries will take part. The forum is intended to promote greater economic interaction and partnerships between private sectors. The Foreign Office said particular focus will be given to trade, logistics, regional connectivity and people to people contacts. The spokesperson added that the visit reflects a shared outlook on peace, stability and development in the region. Officials believe the engagement will help identify new opportunities for cooperation and reinforce long-term relations.
Chief of Defence Staff (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir on Monday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Libya, the military’s media wing said. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Libyan Arab Armed Forces Commander-inChief Field Marshal Khalifa Abual-Qasim Haftar, accompanied by Deputy Commander-in-Chief Lieutenant General Saddam Khalifa Haftar, called on Field Marshal Munir at the General Headquarters (GHQ). “During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on matters of mutual interest, with particular
focus on regional security dynamics and avenues for professional cooperation,” the statement said. The discussion underscored the importance of sustained engagement and collaboration between the armed forces of Pakistan and Libya, it added. Field Marshal Munir wel-
comed the Libyan delegation and reiterated Pakistan’s support for peace, stability and institutional development in Libya, the ISPR said. “The meeting was held in a cordial and constructive atmosphere, reflecting the longstanding friendly relations between Pakistan and Libya,” the statement added.
Security forces kill 22 more terrorists in Balochistan; terrorist death toll rises to 177 RAWALPINDI
staff Correspondent
Pakistan’s security forces continued intensive counterterrorism operations across Balochistan, killing 22 more terrorists during overnight follow-up actions, security sources said on Monday, as the total number of militants eliminated over the past three days rose to at least 177. According to the sources, the ongoing campaign comprises large-scale sanitisation and clearance operations targeting terrorists and their facilitators in multiple parts of the province. Security forces, supported by intelligence agencies and police, have tightened cordons around suspected hideouts and operational zones, inflicting further losses on militant networks. Earlier, addressing a press conference in Quetta, Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti described the operation as one of the most extensive intelligence-led counterterrorism actions conducted within such a short period. He said the crackdown was launched in response to a series of coordinated attacks claimed by the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). The military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said terrorists launched nearsimultaneous assaults on Saturday at multiple locations, targeting both security installations and civilian areas. The attacks took place in Quetta, Mastung, Noshki, Dalbandin, Kharan, Panjgur, Tump, Gwadar and Pasni. Security forces responded swiftly with sustained clearance operations and armed standoffs, killing 92 terrorists on the first day of the operation. According to ISPR, 18 civilians were martyred in the attacks, while 15 security personnel “fought gallantly and embraced martyrdom” during the counterterrorism response. Chief Minister Bugti accused the terrorists of deliberately targeting civilians and exploiting vulnerable populations. Referring to an incident in Gwadar, he said militants killed five women and three children at a family labour colony despite pleas to spare their lives. He also revealed that terrorists attempted to disrupt security operations by damaging surveillance infrastructure, including Safe City cameras in Quetta. However, he said the surveillance system had since been upgraded and expanded to enhance urban monitoring and improve response capabilities. Highlighting the complexity of the operations, Bugti said militants used children as human shields during attacks in Quetta, complicating operational decisions for law enforcement agencies. “They brought an 11-year-old child with them. Should the police kill an 11-year-old?” he asked, underscoring the challenges faced by security personnel while conducting precision-based counterterrorism actions. Security forces remain on high alert as clearance operations continue across the province to eliminate remaining militant elements and restore stability.
TTAP condemns Balochistan attacks, calls them ‘major security failure’ ISLAMABAD
staff report
The opposition alliance Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) on Monday strongly condemned the wave of terrorist attacks that struck multiple parts of Balochistan last week, terming them a “grave security failure” on the part of the
provincial government and law enforcement agencies. In a statement posted on social media platform X, the alliance expressed deep sorrow over the loss of civilian lives and security personnel, and said that the scale and coordination of the attacks exposed serious lapses in governance and security arrangements
in the province. On Saturday, the military’s media wing said terrorists belonging to Fitnaal-Hindustan carried out coordinated assaults across Balochistan, targeting security forces and government installations. At least 18 civilians and 15 personnel of the security forces were martyred in the attacks.
The TTAP said that “a terrorist attack in the province on such a large scale reflects the failure of the provincial government and law enforcement agencies,” adding that the incidents highlighted the shrinking writ of the state and an alarming disregard for the safety of citizens’ lives and property.
PM Shehbaz, KP CM stress centre–province coordination in first formal meeting ISLAMABAD
staff report
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday emphasised the need for close cooperation between the Centre and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government during his first formal meeting with Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, amid disputes over finances and rising security challenges in the province. The meeting, held at the prime minister’s House on the premier’s invitation, focused on KP’s financial issues, counterterrorism efforts and intergovernmental coordination, according to official statements. The prime minister underscored the importance of effective communication between the federation and provinces for national progress and public service. “Close and effective communication between the Centre and the provinces is indispensable for national progress and public
service,” PM Shehbaz was quoted as saying. He assured the KP chief minister of the federal government’s cooperation, within its constitutional jurisdiction, for development projects, infrastructure, education, health services, and employment generation in the province. Stressing that peace in KP was critical, the prime minister described cooperation by the provincial government in maintaining law and order as “unavoidable” and urged it to further strengthen provincial institutions to counter terrorism. Affirming a joint resolve against militancy, PM Shehbaz said both the Centre and the KP government would continue their efforts to combat terrorism, adding that the province must fulfill its constitutional responsibilities to ensure peace and public welfare. “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is an important unit of the federation,” the premier said, assuring that the Centre would continue mak-
ing full efforts for the prosperity of the province’s people. The meeting was also attended by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah and Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Amir Muqam. KP CM raises pending funds, security concerns Speaking to the media after the meeting, Chief Minister Afridi termed the interaction a “demand of his role” and said he had discussed KP’s financial issues and security situation with the prime minister. He said matters related to the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, Net Hydel Profit (NHP), Chashma Right Bank Canal (CRBC) and other pending federal dues were taken up. “Issues concerning our province— whether the NFC, NHP or other pending funds—were discussed,” Afridi said, adding that a joint course of action against terrorism was also deliberated.
PM Shehbaz, World Bank President pledge closer ties for Pakistan’s development ISLAMABAD
staff report
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday welcomed World Bank Group (WBG) President Ajay Pal Singh Banga on his first official visit to Pakistan, underlining the country’s commitment to deepening economic cooperation and reform initiatives. Banga, on a four-day high-level visit from February 1 to 4, is scheduled to meet top officials including Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. During his stay, he will tour official and cultural sites while engaging in discussions on economic re-
forms, development cooperation, and regional projects. In a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Shehbaz Sharif lauded the long-term partnership between Pakistan and the WBG, highlighting the ten-year World Bank Group Country Partnership Framework (CPF) as a model for cooperative development. He praised Banga’s leadership in strengthening the WBG’s role as an effective development partner. “Pakistan values the World Bank Group’s support in fostering economic growth and reforms,” the prime minister said.