World ( The cow news digital ) At least nine police officers, including two station house officers (SHOs), were killed in a deadly militant attack in Balochistan’s Ziarat district, while security forces later killed 15 militants during a large-scale clearance operation, officials said on Monday.
The attack took place in the Kach Mangi Phase III area, where armed militants targeted police personnel deployed on duty. According to Ziarat Superintendent of Police (SP) Abdul Qadoos Dahwar, the assault triggered an intense exchange of gunfire that continued overnight.
Among those killed were SHO Mangi Muhammad Hussain, SHO Kowas Sohbat Khan, and several other police officers and personnel. The bodies of the fallen officers were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital in Ziarat.
Officials said the attackers also abducted several local residents while retreating from the area. Five of the abducted civilians later managed to escape safely.
Following the attack, security forces, Balochistan Police, and other law enforcement agencies launched a joint clearance operation in the surrounding mountainous region. Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind confirmed that 15 militants were killed during the operation.
Rind described the operation as a decisive response, stating that those responsible for attacking security personnel had paid a heavy price. He added that intelligence-based operations would continue across the province to eliminate militant networks and their facilitators.
Authorities also confirmed that Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ghulam Sarwar and eight police personnel safely reached Kach Police Station through difficult mountain routes. Constable Rizwan, who had been separated during the attack, was also recovered safely.
The incident sparked protests in Ziarat, where residents blocked the national highway at Ziarat Cross, disrupting traffic and causing long queues of vehicles.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack, paying tribute to the fallen officers and expressing condolences to their families. He reiterated the government’s commitment to defeating militant groups and maintaining peace in Balochistan.
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also denounced the attack, describing the slain officers as national heroes whose sacrifices would not be forgotten. He vowed that such attacks would not weaken the country’s resolve to combat terrorism.
Security officials said search operations remain underway in the area as authorities continue efforts to locate any remaining attackers and dismantle militant support networks.
