Pakistan Military Reports Over 70 Terrorists Killed in Balochistan Operations

More than 71 terrorists were killed in Shaban and other areas of Balochistan in the last 96 hours, according to Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Sunday.

The military’s media affairs wing stated that security forces launched a swift operation against the terrorists in Ziarat and surrounding areas on September 21, based on credible intelligence. ISPR claimed the operations delivered a serious blow to Indian-backed Afghan proxies. Pakistan’s intelligence agencies identified multiple hideouts of Indian-sponsored Fitna al Khawarij and Fitna al Hindustan in the general area of Shaban, District Quetta.

During the operation in Shaban, security forces engaged terrorists and cleared multiple hideouts, killing 33 "Indian-sponsored terrorists" after intense exchanges of fire. Weapons, ammunition, and explosives were recovered from these hideouts. Over the last 72 hours, the operation was intensified, resulting in the killing of 23 more terrorists. ISPR stated security forces cleared a vast area and relieved local communities of the threat posed by these groups.

The clearance operation is continuing until complete neutralization of the threat. Pakistan uses the term "Fitna al Khawarij" for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and "Fitna al Hindustan" for designated Balochistan-based groups, to highlight India’s alleged role in terrorism. In separate intelligence-based operations on September 25, security forces killed 11 terrorists in Nushki district and six members of Fitna al Hindustan in Mand.

President Asif Ali Zardari commended the security forces for the operations, calling the clearance of several militant hideouts a major success. ISPR also alleged that the "Afghan Taliban regimes’ involvement in terrorism activities in Pakistan, backed and sponsored by India, continues to cause loss of precious lives and threaten peace and stability." Separately, unidentified armed men targeted a construction site in the Palari area of Duki district, abducting 12 workers and killing one security guard who resisted.