ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s interior minister said on Wednesday security forces had killed 13 militants in two operations in the southwestern province of Balochistan, blaming what he called “Indian-sponsored terrorists” for unrest in the region.
The news of the operations comes a day after a suicide bombing killed at least 10 people outside the headquarters of a paramilitary force in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan.
Islamabad alleges that militant groups are backed by arch-rival India and neighboring Afghanistan to stoke violence in the Balochistan region where Pakistan is seeking international investments in mines and minerals, a charge New Delhi and Kabul deny.
“Mohsin Naqvi pays tribute to the security forces on two successful operations against Indian-sponsored terrorists in Balochistan,” his ministry said in a statement.
“The security forces, through successful operations, foiled the nefarious designs of Indian-sponsored terrorists," it added, quoting the minister.
