At least 11 militants linked to an Indian proxy network were killed by the security forces operation carried out in the Kharan and Washuk districts of Balochistan Province, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced on Wednesday. The military’s media wing said the intelligence-based raids were carried out on September 6 and 7 after intelligence pointed to the presence of fighters belonging to Fitna al-Hindustan, a group Pakistan describes as an Indian-backed proxy.
According to the ISPR statement, the first raid took place on September 6 in Kharan, where militants had attempted to set up a roadblock and disrupt traffic in the area. Troops moved quickly to intercept and confront the attackers, killing eight of them in the exchange.
Second Raid Targets Militant Hideout in Washuk
A day later, on September 7, a separate operation unfolded in Washuk district, where security personnel zeroed in on a suspected militant hideout. The ISPR said troops successfully dismantled the hideout, and after a fierce firefight, three additional militants were killed.
During the operation, forces also seized 2.9 tonnes of explosive material believed to have been intended for manufacturing improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The military noted that clearance operations remain underway in the area to track down any remaining India-sponsored militants who may still be hiding nearby.
Part of Ongoing Azm-e-Istehkam Counter-Terrorism Drive
Officials reiterated that this Balochistan security forces operation forms part of the broader Azm-e-Istehkam counter-terrorism campaign, which was endorsed by the Federal Apex Committee under the National Action Plan. The initiative is designed to root out terrorism backed and financed from abroad.
Pakistan has faced a marked rise in militant violence, especially across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, since the Afghan Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Data from the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) shows that these two provinces remained the country’s primary flashpoints for violence during the second quarter of 2026, with KP bearing the brunt of the unrest.
The CRSS findings revealed that KP and Balochistan combined accounted for nearly 96% of all violence-linked deaths recorded in that quarter. KP alone reported more than 61% of total fatalities (475 deaths), while Balochistan recorded 34% (265 deaths). In terms of incidents, KP logged 151 attacks, or 57% of the national tally, while Balochistan saw 94 incidents, making up 35%, reflecting how heavily militant activity remains concentrated in these two provinces.