145 terrorists, 48 security personnel, civilians killed in SW Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- At least 145 terrorists, 17 security personnel and police, and 31 civilians were killed within a span of 40 hours as Pakistan's security forces repelled a wave of coordinated terrorist attacks across the southwestern province of Balochistan, the chief minister said on Sunday.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti told a press conference in Quetta that the casualties occurred during counter-terrorism operations and militant attacks at multiple locations across the province.

He said that the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army carried out multiple attacks across the province on Saturday, prompting immediate and decisive responses by security forces.

Bugti called it the highest number of militant casualties recorded in such a short period since Pakistan's ongoing war against terrorism.

Separately, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said peace had been restored across Balochistan following the attacks, adding that security forces were conducting mopping-up operations to eliminate any remaining threats. ■