Pakistani security forces have killed 18 militants in a series of operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, security sources said on Wednesday. The sources described the dead as India-backed terrorists.
The raids targeted two groups. In KP, forces acted against Fitna al-Khawarij under the Azm-e-Istehkam vision, while in Balochistan the target was Fitna al-Hindustan.
North Waziristan Operation Leaves 13 Militants Dead
In KP, forces struck militant hideouts in North Waziristan district and nearby areas. Thirteen militants were killed, according to the sources.
Mastung Operation Targets Fitna al-Hindustan
In a separate action in Balochistan’s Mastung district, security forces killed five militants linked to Fitna al-Hindustan. Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the militants during the raid, the sources said.
A clearance operation followed in the surrounding area to eliminate any remaining militants, they added.
Rising Militant Attacks in Pakistan
The latest operations come as Pakistan faces a sharp rise in cross-border terrorist incidents, particularly in KP and Balochistan. The trend has been building since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in 2021.
September 2026 saw the highest monthly number of militant attacks in 12 years. The Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), an independent Islamabad-based think tank that tracks anti-state violence, recorded 225 attacks nationwide last month.
That compares with 199 attacks in August, a 13% increase. It was the third straight month in which attacks rose.
Islamabad and Kabul Remain at Odds
Islamabad has repeatedly asked Kabul to stop militant groups from using Afghan territory to launch attacks inside Pakistan. It maintains that the Afghan Taliban authorities have not taken effective action against groups responsible for attacks on Pakistani security forces and civilians.
Several rounds of talks have failed to settle the matter. The presence of militant groups on Afghan soil remains the central point of contention between the two sides.