• CM Bugti reports 75 terrorists neutralized in joint operations since July 5, including 39 in ‘Operation Shaban’
• Foiled attempt to attack Khuzdar police station
• National Assembly panel to conduct on-site security assessment in Quetta
• Police provide detailed timeline of the Mangi dam attack
• Deny social media claims of police resignations
Quetta – Security forces, including the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps (FC), and police, have eliminated 39 terrorists in the past 48 hours during an intensive operation in the Shaban area of Quetta district, officials confirmed on Friday.
The coordinated effort, initiated on July 5, targets terrorists implicated in the killing of 27 law enforcement personnel during a deadly attack on the Mangi dam pumping station police post. The assailants had murdered nine officers, including two station house officers, and abducted 18 others before executing them in the Zarghoon Gar mountainous region.
In an official X post, Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti announced the deaths of 39 terrorists during ‘Operation Shaban,’ bringing the total counter-terrorism casualties since July 5 to 75. Security officials further disclosed that 26 terrorists were neutralized on July 6-7, with an additional 13 eliminated in a major gunbattle in the mountainous Shaban terrain.
On Friday morning, terror suspects attempted an attack on a police station in Khuzdar’s Zedi area, which was successfully repelled. Security forces killed at least eight terrorists in a rapid response operation, while six additional militants were neutralized during a helicopter-assisted assault.
Parliamentary Oversight to Visit Quetta
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control resolved to conduct a special security assessment visit to Quetta, as announced during its 28th meeting chaired by MNA Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz at Parliament House.
The 10-member committee unanimously agreed that a field visit would provide critical insights into Balochistan’s security challenges and enable evidence-based recommendations. Discussions centered on law enforcement conditions in the province and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Details Emerge on Mangi Dam Attack
Police authorities have firmly rejected viral social media claims suggesting resignations among Ziarat district law enforcement officers following the Mangi dam tragedy, labeling the reports as malicious fabrications.
According to police spokesman statements, no Ziarat police personnel have submitted resignation notices. Newly appointed Superintendent of Police Abdul Malik confirmed all officers remain actively deployed. Authorities also debunked misinformation about the attack, emphasizing authentic accounts of heroic resistance by the fallen personnel.
Police disclosed that a 35-strong contingent was stationed at Pumping Station 3 under a DSP on July 6. Following intelligence warnings, their deployment was considered adequate despite the nearest FC position being 20 kilometers away. When distant gunfire erupted at 11am, headquarters maintained communication and dispatched a specialized reinforcement team of 35 personnel.
The Frontier Corps deployed an armed helicopter for aerial surveillance and support, which remained overhead for 90 minutes. As reinforcements approached under cover of darkness, they encountered enemy fire before establishing contact. Subsequent engagements involved VTOL aircraft and mortar bombardment, enabling forward movement toward the post.
By dusk, terrorists launched a physical assault. During the ensuing battle, 15 militants were killed and nine officers embraced martyrdom while three sustained injuries. After ammunition depletion, two evacuation groups formed at night – one led by the DSP reached safety, while another group of 18 was captured in terrain characterized by steep mountains and limited visibility. Ongoing operations cover over 300 square kilometers of mountainous Shaban region.
Published in Dawn, July 11th, 2026
