Ten militants killed in Gwadar operations, one civilian also dead: ISPR
The operations came days after Pakistan briefly suspended trade through two crossings with Iran. What the military's statement says — and what remains unverified.
Pakistan's military says security forces killed ten militants — including a female militant — during operations in and around Gwadar city and near the Gabd border crossing with Iran, in the country's southwestern Balochistan province. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement issued on Thursday, one civilian was also killed and several vehicles were damaged during the attacks, while no security personnel were killed or injured.
In its statement, the military described the militants as "Indian-sponsored" — an allegation India has repeatedly denied — and said the attackers had coerced a Baloch woman into taking part. The ISPR called this an attempt to exploit women for propaganda and inflame public sentiment, describing it as "a crime not only against the state but against the hurmat of Baloch women". These characterisations come from the military's own statement and have not been independently verified.
Context
Gwadar is a strategically important port and a key part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and it has faced repeated attacks by Baloch separatist militants in recent years. The operations took place days after Pakistan suspended trade through two border crossings with Iran; Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir said on Tuesday that the border had reopened. Pakistan has stepped up counterterrorism operations in Balochistan amid a surge in militant violence.
Source and attribution
This report is based on the ISPR statement as published by Arab News and corroborated by other outlets including Geo News. Casualty figures come from the military's statement and NationalNews.pk has not independently verified them; the situation may develop further.