Nine terrorists killed in operations in Pakistan's Balochistan
Karachi, Sep 14 (PTI) Nine terrorists were killed in separate security operations in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, authorities said on Monday.
Six terrorists were killed in the Saranan area of Pishin during an exchange of fire between Counter Terrorism Department personnel and the militants, police said.
Four security personnel were also injured in the gunfire, they said.
In another operation, three terrorists were killed when their vehicle was targeted with a quadcopter strike in Mastung district on Sunday.
Among those killed was a wanted terrorist, identified as Naqeebullah, CTD officials said.
Balochistan, Pakistan's largest and resource-richest province, has for decades been facing an insurgency by militant groups, including the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which seeks independence for the mineral-rich province.
Insurgents demanding independence for Balochistan have been alleging political marginalisation and exploitation of the province's natural resources by the central government.
The BLA has in recent years stepped up attacks targeting security forces, government installations, and projects linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
On Saturday, armed men killed four workers in Jiwani near the coastal town of Gwadar.
According to security sources, the gunmen attacked a vehicle of the National Logistics Cell carrying a payload and killed the four civilians in the vehicle.
The attackers escaped with the payload and also took the vehicle with them, they said.
