By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The security forces killed three militants in a counterterrorism operation in the southwestern district of Mastung, but lost an army major and a sepoy in the exchange of fire, the military said on Thursday, underscoring the rising toll of Islamabad’s battle against surging militancy.
The operation unfolded on July 23 in Balochistan’s Mastung district, a volatile region long plagued by separatist and insurgent violence. According to the military’s media wing, security forces acted on intelligence indicating the presence of terrorists affiliated with “Fitna al Hindustan,” a term Pakistan uses to describe militants it alleges are supported by neighboring India, its archrival.
In the ensuing clash, the military reported that three militants were killed. But the victory came at a steep cost: Major Zeeyyad Salim Awal, 31, and Sepoy Nazam Hussain, 22, lost their lives during the intense firefight.
“The security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of Indian Sponsored Terrorism from the country,” the military said in a statement, adding that a “sanitization operation is being conducted to eliminate any other Indian sponsored terrorists found in the area.” It emphasized that “such sacrifices of our brave men further strengthen our resolve.”
Major Awal, a resident of Khushab, was leading his troops from the front when he was killed, the military said, describing him as a “brave officer” who “fought gallantly” before making the “ultimate sacrifice.” Sepoy Hussain, from Jhelum district, also perished in the exchange of fire, which the military characterized as intense. Both soldiers were hailed as heroes who embraced martyrdom in the line of duty.
Pakistan has frequently pointed to alleged Indian interference in Balochistan, where separatist movements and insurgent attacks have simmered for decades. The military did not release the identities of the three militants killed but said the operation had effectively “sent them to hell,” a phrase reflecting the high stakes of Pakistan’s ongoing counterterrorism campaign.
The Mastung operation comes against a backdrop of heightened friction between India and Pakistan, nuclear-armed neighbors with a long history of conflict. Earlier this year, the two countries engaged in their most severe fighting since 1998, trading drone strikes, fighter jet incursions, missile launches, and artillery barrages in May. The escalation prompted intervention from the United States, which brokered a ceasefire on May 10.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest and most sparsely populated province, remains a flashpoint. Separatist groups seeking greater autonomy or independence have clashed with security forces for years, while insurgent factions have added to the instability.
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