QUETTA, Saturday, January 31, 2026 (WNP): Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti on Saturday said that a major counterterrorism operation in the province was nearing completion, while expressing deep sorrow over the loss of innocent civilian lives, including women and children from a Baloch family in Khuzdar.

Speaking to the media alongside Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, the Chief Minister said that while the operation was almost complete, authorities were still awaiting comprehensive details before making a full assessment public.

“The civilian casualties, including women and children from a Baloch family in Khuzdar, are extremely tragic and deeply regrettable,” he said, emphasizing that the protection of innocent lives remained a top priority of the state.

The Chief Minister reiterated the government’s resolve to bring those responsible for targeting civilians to justice, adding that terrorism posed a direct threat not only to security but also to social cohesion and development in Balochistan. He said the province had endured immense sacrifices and that every effort was being made to restore peace while ensuring accountability.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, paying tribute to the leadership and resolve demonstrated during the operation, praised Chief Minister Bugti’s role in confronting terrorism.

“The courage and determination with which Sarfraz Bugti faced the terrorists today is commendable. If we had a few more leaders with the same resolve, the menace of terrorism could be eliminated from the country,” he said.

The Interior Minister reaffirmed the federal government’s full support to the Balochistan administration and security forces, stating that coordinated civil-military efforts were essential to defeating terrorism and safeguarding civilians.

Both leaders accused India of being behind heinous acts of terrorism and alleged external involvement in destabilizing Pakistan. They reaffirmed that Pakistan would give a befitting response, as it had in the past, to any aggression or subversive activities aimed at undermining national security.

Authorities said further details regarding the operation, including its outcomes and follow-up measures, would be shared once all information was consolidated. The government has also indicated that relief and support for affected families, particularly those who suffered civilian losses, would remain a priority as part of ongoing stabilization and recovery efforts in the province.