PM Khan, army chief reach Balochistan’s Naushki to spend a day with troops

Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa arrived in Balochistan on Tuesday to pay tribute to the martyrs in Panjgur and Naushki.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement that the army chief will spend the day with troops and also meet those who repulsed the attack on February 2.

“COAS will be given [a] detailed update on [the] security situation in the area and operational preparedness of the formation to counter terrorist activities,” it said, adding that the army chief will also “meet troops who participated in repulsing [a] terrorist attack on Feb 2.”

It was reported that PM Khan will visit Naushki where he will be briefed about the operation against terrorists. The PM will meet Balochistan chief minister and the governor in Quetta and will preside over a meeting on security issues.

On Saturday, the security forces had completed the clearance operations, which were launched after terrorists attacked their camps in Panjgur and Nushki districts on Wednesday evening.

At least 20 terrorists were killed during the operations while nine security personnel embraced martyrdom, the military’s media wing had added.

In Naushki, the ISPR had said, nine terrorists were killed while four security forces personnel, including an officer, embraced shahadat during the “shootout with terrorists while repulsing the attack”. In Panjgur, the security forces had repulsed the terrorist attack after an intense exchange of fire during which some terrorists fled the area, it had added.