Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti said on Sunday that the provincial government would not surrender, as he confirmed that 145 terrorists had been killed during recent security operations.

Addressing a press conference, the chief minister said 17 security personnel were martyred in clashes with militants, while the bodies of 145 terrorists were in government custody. He added that reports suggested Afghan nationals were also among the militants.

Bugti said intelligence reports were already available to the government, which led to the launch of operations one day before the planned attacks. He said that during 40 hours of action, 145 terrorists were killed. He confirmed that 31 civilians were martyred and several others were injured in the attacks. He added that around 1,500 terrorists had been killed in various operations across the province over the past year.

The chief minister said that a day earlier, 40 terrorists were killed in operations in Shaban and Panjgur, which prevented an attack from the north-east of Quetta. He said a separate operation in Panjgur also stopped another planned assault. He added that security forces remained alert and successfully foiled a major attack. No village in Balochistan was evacuated for the operation, while action against fleeing militants continues.

Bugti said militants wanted to impose their ideology through violence but stressed that the government would not lay down arms, even if resistance continued for a thousand years. He said the people of Balochistan were being used as fuel at the behest of India.

He said terrorists could not take even an inch of land, adding that Balochistan would return to peace.