Pakistani troops claim to have killed 75 separatists in Balochistan in days-long operations

Pakistani security forces, backed by military helicopters, have killed 75 insurgents in days of operations against the banned separatist group Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), blamed for a wave of attacks on the army, police and civilians in the restive Balochistan province, officials said today.

A day earlier, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Quetta, the provincial capital, and told the families of 42 people killed in attacks blamed on insurgents that their sacrifices were not in vain and that those responsible would be brought to justice.

The violence that erupted this week has raised fears that separatist groups, once thought to be relatively small, are now expanding their influence.

According to the Balochistan government, the security forces' operation began on Monday evening local time after dozens of BLA fighters attacked a police checkpoint near the Mangi hydroelectric power plant, which supplies electricity to millions of people in Quetta and surrounding areas.

Nine police officers and 15 attackers were killed in the attack, and the BLA kidnapped 18 police officers. They were later found blindfolded and shot dead in the surrounding mountains.

Pakistan claims that both the BLA and the Pakistani Taliban have hideouts in neighboring Afghanistan and receive support from India.

Kabul and New Delhi reject the accusations.

Balochistan is Pakistan's largest but least populated province. It has long been plagued by separatism by ethnic Baloch groups seeking greater autonomy or independence. It has also been plagued by attacks by the Pakistani Taliban, which is separate from but allied with the Afghan Taliban.