Wanted Baloch rebel killed in Pakistan

Dr Allah Nazar.

Dr Allah Nazar, one of the most important leaders of the armed rebellion against the state of Pakistan and security forces, has reportedly been killed in an operation in Awaran district of the restive Balochistan province, provincial home minister Sarfraz Bugti told reporters in Quetta on Tuesday.
"According to unverified reports Nazar has been killed. I say unverified because we have not yet received any evidence of his being alive ever since the Frontier Corps conducted a series of operations. There has been no human intelligence, no sign of life," the minister said.
Further, Bugti said security forces in an operation arrested seven suspected terrorists belonging to various banned outfits in Balochistan.
Nazar has not been traceable since the morning of July 18 (Eid Al Fitr day).
Earlier on Monday, Frontier Corps Balochistan Inspector General Maj-Gen. Sher Afgan told the media in Quetta that there were reports that Nazar had either been killed or injured but there was no confirmation yet.
Blamed for most of the troubles in the Awaran and Panjgur areas, Nazar communicated with his associates on 18th July (Eid day) at 8:14am. In no time his location was attacked. Within 10 to 12 minutes of the attack, security forces reached the area and searched the vicinity in a radius of 10km but couldn't trace Allah Nazar injured or dead.
"Security forces also recovered arms along with about 600 international SIM cards from the suspected terrorists," Bugti said.
"The forces were successful in destroying the communication centre being used by the militants, which was situated on a hill top," the provincial home minister further said, while adding that initial reports revealed the suspects were using SIMs belonging to Afghanistan, India and various European countries.
In June, at least 13 militants of a banned outfit, including the brother and nephew of Allah Nazar were killed by paramilitary troops during a search operation in the troubled Mashkay area of Awaran district of Balochistan.
Bugti said the arrested terrorists were being interrogated by security agencies with regard to their involvement in terror acts in Balochistan.
Allah Nazar had been leading the banned BLF in various parts of Balochistan targeting security forces, vital national installations and pro-government personalities for over a decade. Nazar belonged to a middle-class family from Mashkay in the Awaran district. He was the only leader of the main insurgent groups who was engaged in fighting on the ground in Balochistan.
news@khaleejtimes.com

• Pakistan