RAWALPINDI: An operation by security forces in Mastung, Balochistan denied the establishment of any direct or indirect Daesh-organised infrastructure in the country, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Thursday.
In a statement regarding the week-old incident, the ISPR said security forces, based on actionable intelligence, conducted an operation in Mastung from June 1 till June 3.
The operation was conducted after intelligence reports were received of 10-15 terrorists of banned Lashkar-e-Jhangivi Al-Almi hiding in caves near Isplingi (Koh-i-Siah/Koh-i-Maran) — some 36 kilometres (km) south east of Mastung, said the ISPR.
The outfit was reportedly making efforts for communication with Daesh and intended to facilitate the establishment of the latter’s foothold in Balochistan.
A clearing operation of the area — spread over 10km — started early morning on June 1 after helicopter landings, and continued for three days, the statement said.
Holed up in caves, the terrorists “offered stiff resistance” while a 250-metre-long gorge with steep heights and multiple caves made the clearance operation difficult and challenging, the ISPR explained.
Intelligence and security forces personnel fought valiantly to clear the hideout by June 3, the statement claimed.
In the exchange of fire, 12 “hardcore” terrorists, including two suicide bombers, were killed, said the ISPR, adding that the suicide bomber who attacked Senate Deputy Chairman Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri on May 12 was sent from the same hideout.
Five security forces personnel, including two officers, were injured in the operation.
During the operation, security forces destroyed an IED-making facility and recovered 50 kilogrammess of explosives, three suicide jackets, 18 grenades, six rocket launchers, four light machine guns, 18 small machine guns, four sniper rifles, 38 communication sets, and a huge cache of ammunition.
Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa has appreciated the efforts of the Southern Command [based in Balochistan], intelligence agencies and all the troops for the successful operation.
