Pakistan Says Forces Killed 145 'Indian-Backed Terrorists' After Balochistan Attacks
Authorities say 145 militants were killed in 40 hours after coordinated attacks killed 33 people in Balochistan, including five women and three children.
Overview
Sarfraz Bugti, the provincial chief minister, said provincial police and military forces killed 145 members of "Fitna al-Hindustan" in 40 hours and that the bodies are in custody, according to his remarks in Quetta.
The raids followed coordinated suicide and gun attacks on Jan. 7 that killed 33 people, including 18 civilians and 15 security personnel, and struck police stations, a high-security prison and facilities in Gwadar, according to military and provincial officials.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti accused India and Afghan-based militants of backing the assaults, allegations both New Delhi and Kabul denied or did not immediately respond to.
Officials reported varied casualty figures with the military saying 92 militants were killed on Saturday while Bugti said 145 were killed over two days, a discrepancy not reconciled by authorities and marked by conflicting accounts.
Security forces conducted follow-up raids across Balochistan, suspended mobile internet in Quetta, Gwadar and Noshki, and detained suspected fighters as investigations and potential cross-border tensions remain ongoing.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present this coverage with mild pro-government framing: they foreground official claims (lead paragraph reports 145 'Indian-backed terrorists' killed) and amplify provincial leaders' language while labeling alternative accounts as denials or unverified. Language choices (quoted labels), source prioritization (senior officials first) and placement of denials later shape a security-focused narrative.
Sources (7)
FAQ
'Fitna al-Hindustan' is a label used by Pakistani authorities to refer to Balochistan-based militant groups, highlighting alleged support from India, as announced by the federal government and used in official correspondence.
Coordinated suicide and gun attacks on January 7 targeted police stations, a high-security prison, and facilities in Gwadar, killing 33 people including 18 civilians (five women and three children) and 15 security personnel.
There is a discrepancy: Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti reported 145 militants killed over 40 hours, while the military stated 92 on Saturday, and other sources mentioned 67 or over 100.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti accused India and Afghan-based militants of supporting the attacks, claims denied by New Delhi and not immediately responded to by Kabul.
Security forces conducted follow-up raids across Balochistan, suspended mobile internet in Quetta, Gwadar, and Noshki, and detained suspected fighters.
History
3 sources