Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Syed Asim Munir, has pledged to eradicate terrorism from the country through uninterrupted military operations following twin suicide attacks that killed 65 individuals. The first attack occurred in Balochistan, where a suicide blast targeted a procession celebrating Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, resulting in 60 deaths and over 60 injuries. In the second attack in Hangu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a police station’s mosque was targeted, killing five people and injuring 12 others due to the collapse of the mosque’s roof.
General Munir visited Quetta, where he received a briefing on the recent terrorist attacks. He claimed that individuals unrelated to Islam were conducting these attacks with support from state sponsors of terrorism. He emphasized that these terrorists, driven by malevolent forces, will face full resistance from the state and security forces, backed by a resilient nation. He also assured that military operations against terrorists will continue relentlessly until terrorism is eradicated from the country. Although no group has claimed responsibility for the Balochistan attack, the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) denied involvement.
In the meantime, a think-tank report revealed that Pakistan’s security forces suffered the highest casualties in eight years, with 386 personnel losing their lives in the first nine months of 2023. The report by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) also highlighted a disturbing 57% surge in nationwide violence. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan are witnessing a significant increase in violence.
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