The Pakistani military said four alleged militants were killed and two explosives-laden vehicles destroyed during an operation in Balochistan’s Khuzdar district on Thursday, while sources in the area reported that a drone strike killed four civilians and critically injured another person.
In a statement, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing, said forces carried out an “intelligence-based operation” on July 30 following information about the presence of alleged militants it accused of being backed by India.
It said two vehicles configured as vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices were intercepted and destroyed, killing the four people operating them.
The military did not disclose the precise location of the operation within Khuzdar district or identify those killed.
Meanwhile, sources in the Moola Manjhalo area said a drone operated by Pakistani forces struck a location in the area at around 5:00am on Thursday, killing four civilians and injuring another person.
Three of those killed were identified as Irfan, son of Abdul Hameed; Mir Gul, son of Mohammad Hussain; and Ali Gul, son of Mohammad Hussain. The identity of the fourth person was not immediately available.
A man identified as Muneer was critically injured and transferred to Karachi for further medical treatment, the sources said.
The Pakistani military did not comment on the reports of civilian casualties or say whether its operation was connected to the reported drone strike.