88 Militants Killed in Pakistan's Operation Shaban Amid Balochistan Unrest

Pakistan's ongoing Operation Shaban in the restive province of Balochistan has resulted in the deaths of 88 militants since its launch on July 5 , according to the country's Interior Ministry.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said nine militants were killed in the last 24 hours , taking the total number of militants eliminated during the operation to 88. The campaign involves the Pakistan Army, Rangers, and Frontier Corps , with both ground and air operations targeting insurgent groups.

The operation was launched after a wave of coordinated militant attacks across Balochistan on July 5. The deadliest assault occurred at a police checkpoint near Mangi Dam in Ziarat district , where militants killed nine police personnel and abducted 18 others . Authorities later recovered the bodies of the abducted officers from the Zarghoon Gar mountain range .

Families of the slain policemen have continued a sit-in protest near Quetta, demanding justice and stronger security measures for law enforcement personnel. Protesters brought eight bodies from Quetta's Civil Hospital to the demonstration site, refusing to bury them until the government provides concrete assurances.

In another July 5 attack, militants targeted members of the Hanna Urak Valley tribe near Quetta, killing five tribesmen , injuring eight , and abducting 11 people . The abducted tribesmen were rescued on Friday night, prompting their families to end a separate protest.

Balochistan has witnessed an insurgency for nearly two decades , with ethnic Baloch groups accusing the federal government of exploiting the province's vast natural and mineral resources while neglecting local communities.