New military operation in Balochistan

Islamabad, Dec 30 (UNI) Four months after the killing of tribal chief Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti in an anti-terror operation, Pakistani security forces have launched a fresh operation in some areas of the Dera Bugti district in the country's restive Balochistan province.

Dawn newspaper reported that the security forces used helicopter gunships and targeted camps of tribal militants.

According to the reports, security forces started their operation yesterday after receiving information about the presence of militants who had reportedly re-established camps in Toba Nokhani, Zin-Koh and Gundoi areas of the district.

Sources said over half a dozen helicopter gunships were seen flying in the area, targeting the camps of the outlaws.

''Operation continued till late afternoon and helicopters successfully destroyed all the camps in the area,'' the sources added.

However, there was no report about casualties in the day-long operation.

The spokesman for the Balochistan government, Raziq Bugti, when contacted, did not confirm any operation in the area, but said action against miscreants might have been taken.

''Security forces have already destroyed all such camps in the troubled areas of Dera Bugti and the situation is completely under control,'' Mr Bugti noted.

Meanwhile, Wadera Alam Khan, a spokesman for the militants, confirmed the launch of a fresh operation in some areas of Dera Bugti and claimed that eight to 10 helicopter gunships took part in the operation that continued throughout the day.

He told mediapersons that helicopters fired missiles and dropped bombs in the area. He also claimed that militants of the banned Balochistan Liberation Army shot down a helicopter during the fighting while three vehicles of the security forces were destroyed.

He further claimed killing over a dozen security personnel and injuring many others.

UNI XC KD DS1655