Security forces killed five terrorists, among them a senior militant commander, during an intelligence-based operation in Balochistan’s Panjgur district, security sources said on Monday. The raid, carried out under Operation Rad-ul-Fitna-3, took place in the Sarkini and Chedgi areas of the district.
Those killed belonged to the militant outfit Fitna al-Hindustan. Sources identified the group’s commander among the dead as Wazir, son of Jamal, marking a significant blow to the network’s local leadership.
Following the operation, troops recovered a substantial cache of weapons from the slain militants, including four motorcycles, machine guns, heavy weapons and ammunition. Officials said the men had been linked to robbery, extortion, kidnapping and other terrorist activities aimed at traders and ordinary residents in the area.
Clearance Operation Continues in Panjgur
Security sources confirmed that a follow-up clearance operation is still underway to root out any remaining Fitna al-Hindustan militants hiding in the vicinity.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi commended the security forces for the successful Panjgur operation, calling their conduct professional and disciplined. In an official statement, he said troops had once again shown their determination in the ongoing fight against terrorism.
Naqvi added that Pakistan’s armed forces would continue working to clear Balochistan of militant elements and restore lasting stability to the province. He said the nation stood firmly behind its security personnel and reaffirmed the government’s pledge to back their counterterrorism efforts.
The Panjgur raid comes a day after security forces killed 15 India-backed militants from Fitna al-Khawarij in a separate series of operations conducted under Rad-ul-Fitna-3. Those raids spanned several Balochistan districts, including Mastung, Bolan, Washuk, Awaran, Sibi, Khuzdar, Harnai and Nushki.
Violence Trends in KP and Balochistan
Pakistan has seen a marked rise in militant activity, especially across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since the Afghan Taliban’s return to power in 2021. A recent report from the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) found that these two provinces remained the country’s primary centers of violence during the second quarter of 2026, with KP bearing the brunt of the impact.
Per the CRSS findings, KP and Balochistan combined accounted for nearly 96 percent of all violence-related deaths recorded in the quarter. KP alone made up more than 61 percent of fatalities, with 475 deaths, while Balochistan recorded 265 deaths, or roughly 34 percent of the total.
KP also logged the highest number of violent incidents nationwide, with 151 cases representing 57 percent of the total, followed by Balochistan’s 94 incidents, or 35 percent, highlighting how concentrated militant activity remains in these two provinces.