Balochistan: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2016

Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif while addressing tribal elders of Gwadar, Talar and Turbat areas of Makran Division on January 1 said that the nation would get rid of terrorism this year, reports Dawn. “The new year will be the year when terrorism will end,” he said. He also said that the “elements involved in the bad practice of financial misappropriation” should also be dealt with strictly. Read less...

Two Policemen were killed when unidentified armed assailants opened fire at a Police check post in Bibi Nanai area of Sariab Road in provincial capital Quetta on January 4, reports Dawn. "Armed assailants opened fire at Sariab road," said a police official. Read less...

In another operation, the FC on January 6 arrested three suspects from Mangochar area of Kalat District, reports Dawn. Wasey said that that weapons and explosives were also recovered from their possession. Read less...

Separately, Security Forces (SFs) arrested four Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants during a raid in Gawal Ismailzai area of Zhob District on January 6, reports Dawn. The spokesman for the Frontier Corps (FC) Khan Wasey said that weapons were also recovered from their possession. Wasay alleged the weapons were being smuggled into interior Balochistan for use in subversive activities. Read less...

Unidentified militants abducted six locals while they on their way to Gandoi area of Sui tehsil (revenue unit) in Dera Bugti District on January 6, reports Dawn. No group has claimed responsibility for abduction. Read less...

The bullet-riddled body of an officer of Pakistan Air Force, Liaquat Ali Khan, was found near a village in Qila Saifullah District on January 7, reports Dawn. The officer was kidnapped along with four other people on January 4 from an area between Quetta and Zhob when they were coming from Islamabad in a rented car. The body with bullet wounds in the head was thrown on a road. The PAF officer Liaquat Ali Khan belongs to Talagang area in Punjab. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for killing the officer and kidnapping nine people in Qila Saifullah District. Read less...

Meanwhile, unidentified assailants shot dead a senior Afghan Taliban ‘commander’, Maulvi Muhammad Alam, in Kuchlak area of Quetta on January 8, reports Daily Times. Maulvi Muhammad Alam, loyal commander to Taliban supremo Mullah Akhtar Mansoor, was shot dead, Taliban leaders said on the condition of anonymity, as they were not authorised to speak to the media. “I can confirm that Maulvi Muhammad Alam has been killed. Read less...

Two Police personnel, Constable Mushtaq and constable Wajid, were shot dead by unidentified assailants on January 8 outside a mosque in Multani Mohala of Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, reports Daily Times. The assailants managed to flee the scene of crime. Read less...

In another incident, SFs launched a search operation in various parts of provincial capital Quetta, including Kasi Road, Balochi street, and arrested 25 suspects on January 9, reports Dawn. “25 suspects were arrested from various parts of Quetta,” said an unnamed police official. Read less...

Separately, Security Forces (SFS) claimed to have foiled a major bid of terrorism by seizing weapons and arresting a suspected militant from Dera Murad Jamali area of Naseerabad District on January 9, reports Dawn. Read less...

Two Coast Guard personnel were killed and three others were wounded when their vehicle hit a landmine in Kaldan area of Jewni tehsil (revenue unit) in Gwadar District on January 9, reports Dawn. Read less...

Meanwhile, seven Afghan nationals were abducted and two others were injured in an exchange of fire with kidnappers in Talab area of Taftan in Chagai District on January 10, reports Dawn. Taftan Assistant Commissioner Murad Kasi said, It is not known who was behind the kidnapping of the Afghan nationals. Read less...

Separately, the Frontier Corps on the basis of intelligence reports arrested a TehreekeTaliban Pakistan (TTP) militant during a raid in Chanjan area of Killa Saifullah District on January 10, reports The Express Tribune. Read less...

Meanwhile, the AntiTerrorism Court on January 11 allowed Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) to detain an al Qaeda suspect, identified as Abdur Raqeeb, for 30 days for questioning, reports Daily Times. The department told the judge that they have credible information about suspect that he is involved in providing financial assistance to terrorists and in other offences came within the ambit of AntiTerrorism Act (ATA). Raqeeb, alleged to be Hyderabad's ameer (chief) of al Qaeda, was picked up in a targeted operation in PIB colony of Gulshan Town on January 8, 2016. Read less...

The shop owner of an officially sanctioned wine shop, identified as Moti Ram, was injured when unidentified militants lobbed a hand grenade at the shop located on Muneer Mengal Road in provincial capital Quetta on January 11, reports The Express Tribune. Read less...

In another incident, unidentified militants opened fire at a FWO vehicle that was carrying officials, injuring at least five personnel in Turbat District on January 12, reports Dawn Read less...

Separately, a labourer was killed when unidentified militants opened fire at a Frontier Works Organization (FWO) Camp in Hoshap area of Turbat District on January 12, reports Dawn. Read less...

At least 14 persons, including 13 Policemen and one Frontier Corps (FC) official, were killed and 10 others were injured, in a suicide attack near a polio centre in Satellite Town of Quetta on January 13 (today), reports Dawn. "The blast was apparently carried out by a suicide bomber," said Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti. Read less...

At least 15 people, among them 13 Police personnel, a Frontier Corps (FC) soldier and a civilian, were killed while 25 others were injured when suicide bomber blew himself up near a Government health centre in Satellite Town area of Quetta on January 13, reports Dawn. Earlier, it was reported that 14 persons were killed in the attack. TehreekeTaliban Pakistan and JaishulIslam (JuI) claimed responsibility for the attack. TTP spokesman Muhammad Khurasani sent an email to journalists, claiming responsibility of the suicide attack. But Azam Tariq, a spokesman for the JuI, made a similar claim and said the attack had been carried out by his group to avenge the act of torturing the people in custody. Read less...

Meanwhile, FC personnel also foiled major terror bid by defusing three Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) in Solani area of Kech District on January 14, reports Dawn. The FC spokesman said that the militants had planted the IEDs to target SFs and FWO workers in the area. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) claimed to have killed at least three militants during a search operation in Sami and Tabjan areas of Kech District on January 14, reports Dawn. A spokesman for the Frontier Corps (FC) Khan Waey said that the militants were allegedly involved in attacks at the Frontier Works Organization (FWO). Weapons and ammunition were also seized by the SFs. Read less...

A parked vehicle was damaged on January 15 in a blast in Pir Koh area of Dera Bugti District in Balochistan, reports Daily Times. According to Levies sources, Unidentified militants had planted improvised explosive devices in a vehicle and had parked it near a house that went off. A vehicle was damaged in the blast while no loss of life was reported. Read less...

Elsewhere, SFs arrested a TTP militant during a raid in Karbala village of Pishin District on January 17, reports Dawn. Read less...

Meanwhile, SFs arrested three Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants from Nassai area of Qilla Saifullah District on January 17, reports Dawn. Read less...

Separately, Security Forces (SFs) on January 17 foiled a major terror bid on a roadside in Sui tehsil (revenue unit) of Dera Bugti District, defusing an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) weighing around 17 kilogram, reports Dawn. Khan Wasey, spokesman for the Frontier Corps said, "Miscreants wanted to target security forces through the IED." Read less...

Three bullet-riddled dead bodies were recovered from Gorkop area of Kech District on January 17, reports Dawn. The dead bodies were identified as those of Noshad alias Nodo, Abdul Ghani and Maqsood. "All victims received multiple bullet wounds," Levies sources said. Read less...

Meanwhile, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Quetta on January 18 acquitted former President General (retired) Pervez Musharraf in the case of the murder of Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) leader Nawab Akbar Bugti who was killed on August 26, 2006 in a military operation in Dera Bugti District, reports The Express Tribune. The court also acquitted former Federal Home Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao, and former Provincial Home Minister Shoaib Nosherwani. During the hearing, the court also rejected the request by Nawabzada Jamil Akbar Bugti, son of Akbar Bugti, to order exhumation of his father’s body to ensure the body buried in Dera Bugti was that of his late father. Read less...

SixFrontier Corps (FC) personnel were killed and one was injured in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast near FC’s Margat Checkpoint in provincial capital Quetta on January 18, reports Daily Times. No outfit claimed responsibility for the attack. Read less...

At least five Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) militants, including 'commander' Suhbat Baloch, were killed during a raid in BLA hideout in Chapar area of Barkhan District on January 20, reports The Express Tribune. Three BLA militants were arrested. “The arrested persons have been shifted to an undisclosed location for interrogation,” FC spokesman said. Two persons kidnapped six months ago were also recovered from the hideout where Light Machine Guns, AK-47 assault rifles and anti-Pakistan seditious material were also found. Read less...

In separate search operations, the FC detained 16 suspects in Turbat District, Panjgur District and Sui area of Dera Bugti District for questioning. Read less...

SemiHidden="false" Meanwhile, Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti on January 22 narrowly escaped an attempt on his life when his convoy hit a roadside bomb in Baker tehsil (revenue unit) of Dera Bugti District, reports Daily Times. The Minister Mir Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti was on an official visit to his hometown in Baker tehsil. However, no casualties were reported in the blast. It exploded moments after Bugti’s vehicle crossed the site. One vehicle in the convoy was partially damaged as a result of the blast. No group has so far claimed responsibility. Read less...

At least six militants were killed while a soldier embraced martyrdom and two other injured during a search operation in Mashkey area of Awaran District in Balochistan on January 22, reports Daily Times. Read less...

Balochistan Government on January 24 decided to establish a special force to be deployed at university campuses across the Province, reports Dawn. “The new force would be subservient to vice chancellors,” said Balochistan Home Secretary Akbar Hussain Durrani. He further said that the administrative powers over the force would be with Police. Durrani said 60 personnel will be deployed at each university, adding that the force will be well equipped. Read less...

Frontier Corps (FC) killed four suspected militants in an exchange of fire during search operation in Winder area of Lasbela District on January 26, reports Dawn. FC Spokesman Khan Wasey said that Security Forces (SF) also recovered weapons from their possession, adding that the suspects were involved in carrying out bomb blasts, kidnapping-for-ransom and attacks on SFs in the Province. Read less...

Meanwhile, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on January 26 arrested two suspects, identified as Asmatullah and Muhammad Ramzan, for selling and possessing Afghan SIM cards in Chaman town of Qilla Abdullah District on January 26, reports Dawn. "FIA also recovered a large number of Afghan SIM cards from the possession of the accused, the duo were shifted to FIA's Chaman centre for interrogation," said an unnamed official. Read less...

Separately, SFs killed two militants in Pasni area of Gwadar District on January 26, reports Dawn. Illegal arms and ammunition were also recovered. The militants were identified as Mohammad Younus Kolanchi and Mohammad Hanif Kolanchi. “Their accomplices managed to escape,” a police official said. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) arrested four suspects, demolished three hideouts of terrorists, and recovered arms and ammunition from Harnai District on January 27, reports Dawn. Khan Wasey, the spokesman for Frontier Corps, said that 500 kilograms of explosives, four Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), one hand grenade, and a number of other weapons were recovered during the raid. Read less...

Four Policemen werekilled when Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants open fired at them while they were sitting inside a mini gas station situated on Munir Mengal Road in Satellite Town of provincial capital Quetta on January 28, reports The Express Tribune. TTP spokesperson Mohammad Khorasani said, “The TTP’s special unit STF’s commandos successfully carried out the attack at a police mobile at Quetta’s Satellite Town. The commandos disappeared after the attack”. Read less...

Separately, two bogies of the Jaffar Express were partially damaged in an explosion near railway tracks in Mithri area of Sibi District on January 28, reports Dawn. However, no casualties were reported. Read less...

Meanwhile, the Government of Balochistan during a meeting held with Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri in the chair on January 29 pledged that the responsibility of providing security to people would be fulfilled at all costs and actions against terrorists and anti-social elements and their facilitators would continue to purge the province of all terrorists, reports Dawn. He decided to pursue a `tit-for-tat policy’ to deal with terrorists and their facilitators to ensure fool-proof security in the Province. There was consensus among participants that terrorist attacks on police and other security personnel were a reaction to successful anti-terror operations being carried out by law enforcement agencies. Read less...

Meanwhile, two suspected militants were killed in an exchange of fire with SFs in Mastung District late on January 29, reports Dawn. Official sources said that unidentified assailants attacked a convoy of SFs in the Kanak area of the District. They fired rockets and shots. SF personnel in the convoy retaliated and the exchange of fire continued for about three hours. Read less...

Six soldiers of Pakistan Army and a child were injured as a suicide bomber blew himself near Cantt area of Zhob District on January 29, reports The Express Tribune. The attacker attempted to enter Cantt area when the Friday prayers were underway, said Provincial Home Secretary Akber Hussain Durrani. TehreekeTaliban Pakistan (TTP)Mehsud faction claimed responsibility for the attack. The spokesman Azam Masood called Radio Free Europe Mashal correspondent in Dera Ismail Khan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and claimed responsibility for the attack. Read less...

Accent Dr Manan Baloch, a senior leader of the Baloch Liberation Front (BLF), and four other suspected militants were killed in an encounter with Security Forces (SFs) in Mastung District of Balochistan on January 30, reports Dawn. Addressing a press conference at the Chief Minister Secretariat in Quetta, Balochistan Home Minister Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti said Manan headed the Baloch National Movement (BNM), an organisation supporting militants. Bugti said SFs conducted a search operation in Killi Datu area of Mastung during which an exchange of fire took place between the SF personnel and militants hiding in a house. He said Manan and four other men were allegedly involved in subversive activities, including attacks on law enforcement agencies. Read less...