Pakistani security forces have killed 19 militants linked to India-backed groups Fitna Al Khawarij and Fitna Al Hindustan during a series of operations across Balochistan since September 21, the military’s media wing announced on Wednesday.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said intelligence agencies had identified several hideouts used by Indian-sponsored terrorists in the Shaban area of Quetta, which posed a direct threat to residents living nearby.
Clearance Operation Underway in Shaban, Quetta
ISPR stated that security forces began a clearance operation in the Shaban area of Quetta district on September 21 to protect local communities and rid the region of militant presence. Troops successfully engaged and cleared out multiple hideouts during the mission.
A fierce exchange of gunfire during the operation resulted in the deaths of 13 Indian-sponsored terrorists so far, according to the statement. Security personnel also recovered weapons, ammunition, and explosive materials from the cleared sites. ISPR noted that the operation in Shaban would continue until every trace of the threat in the area is eliminated.
Additional Operations in Kech and Quetta West
Separately, on September 22 and 23, security forces carried out intelligence-based operations in Kech district and Quetta West, acting on prior information about militant activity in those locations.
These operations led to another exchange of fire in which six additional terrorists were killed, with weapons and ammunition seized from the scene, ISPR reported.
The military confirmed that Subedar Muhammad Jamil, 39, lost his life during the exchange of fire, describing him as a “son of the soil” who embraced martyrdom while performing his duty.
Azm-e-Istehkam Campaign to Continue
ISPR reaffirmed that the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign, carried out under the “Azm-e-Istehkam” framework approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, would proceed at full intensity. Security forces and law enforcement agencies remain committed, the statement said, to rooting out foreign-backed militancy from Pakistani soil.
Balochistan and KP Remain Worst-Hit Provinces
Pakistan has seen a marked rise in terrorism-related violence since the Afghan Taliban’s return to power, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan bearing the heaviest impact.
Data from the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) shows that these two provinces were the country’s primary centers of unrest during the second quarter of 2026, with KP recording the highest toll. Together, KP and Balochistan accounted for nearly 96 percent of all violence-linked deaths nationwide during that period, with KP alone responsible for more than 61 percent, or 475 fatalities, and Balochistan for 34 percent, or 265 deaths.
KP also saw the greatest number of violent incidents, logging 151 cases, or 57 percent of the national total, while Balochistan recorded 94 incidents, making up 35 percent, further highlighting how militant activity remains concentrated in these two provinces.
