ISLAMABAD: Security forces killed four India-backed terrorists in separate operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, security sources said on Wednesday.
Three of the militants, described as Fitna al-Khawarij, died in an intelligence-based operation in Mir Ali, North Waziristan. A large cache of weapons and ammunition was recovered, and militant hideouts were destroyed, the sources said.
Operation Radd-ul-Fitna 3 in Surab
In Balochistan, security forces carried out an operation near Mal Madarsa in Surab district under Operation Radd-ul-Fitna 3, targeting Fitna al-Hindustan. It was launched after information surfaced about the presence of terrorists between Mal Madarsa and Bategu.
One terrorist was killed in an exchange of fire, while another escaped. Weapons and a motorcycle were recovered from the slain militant.
The sources said security forces remain committed to maintaining peace and order in Balochistan and rooting out terrorism from the province.
Premature Blast Kills Militant in Tank
In a separate incident in KP’s Tank district, a terrorist linked to Fitna al-Khawarij was killed when an explosive device he was carrying went off early. He was reportedly on his way to a patwar office.
According to the sources, he intended to target the office over an extortion-related dispute. The blast damaged two houses next to the government building, and their walls collapsed.
Recent Operations Against Militants
The latest actions follow a stepped-up counterterrorism push in Balochistan. On September 27, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said more than 70 terrorists had been killed in several operations across the province over four days.
The ISPR said 17 terrorists were killed in one phase of a major operation in the Shaban area, and 56 more died in a follow-up clearance operation. Forces also carried out operations in Nushki and Mand.
On September 29, security sources reported that seven militants were killed in separate operations in KP and Balochistan. Five Fitna al-Khawarij terrorists died in Bara, and two Fitna al-Hindustan terrorists were killed in Balochistan’s Nokcha area. Weapons and ammunition were recovered, and hideouts were destroyed in the Bara operation.
Surge in Terrorism Since 2021
Pakistan has seen a rise in terrorist activity, particularly in KP and Balochistan, since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in 2021.
A report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) found that the two provinces remained the country’s main hotspots for violence in the second quarter of 2026, with KP the hardest hit. Together they accounted for nearly 96% of all violence-related deaths in the quarter.
More than 61% of the deaths (475) were recorded in KP, while Balochistan accounted for 34% (265). KP also logged the most violent incidents, with 151 cases, or 57% of the national total. Balochistan followed with 94 incidents, or 35%.