Security forces killed 11 militants in two separate operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, security sources said on Saturday. The sources described all 11 as India-backed terrorists. The raids took place in South Waziristan and in the Gorindar-Mashkel area, as part of continuing counterterrorism campaigns in both provinces.
South Waziristan Operation Leaves Five Militants Dead
In KP’s South Waziristan district, troops acted on intelligence and moved against hideouts used by Fitna al-Khawarij, according to the sources. Five militants died in the action, and the hideouts were hit and destroyed.
Security sources added that a large stock of weapons and ammunition was recovered from the slain militants.
Six Terrorists Killed in Gorindar-Mashkel, Balochistan
In a separate action, security forces targeted terrorists described as Fitna al-Hindustan in the Gorinder-Mashkel area of Balochistan. The operation was part of Operation Radd-ul-Fitna 3.
Sources said the militants first opened fire on a checkpost in the area and then tried to escape. Security forces responded quickly and killed six of them as they fled.
Militant Attacks in Pakistan Hit a 12-Year High
The operations come at a time of growing violence. Pakistan has seen a sharp increase in cross-border terrorist incidents, especially in KP and Balochistan, since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in 2021.
September 2026 saw the highest monthly count 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 in August, a rise of 13%, and marks the third straight month of increases.
Islamabad and Kabul Remain at Odds
Islamabad has repeatedly asked Kabul to stop militant groups from using Afghan territory to launch attacks inside Pakistan. Pakistan says the Afghan Taliban authorities have not taken effective action against groups behind assaults on its security forces and civilians. Kabul has disputed that position.
Several rounds of talks have failed to settle the matter. The presence of militant groups on Afghan soil remains the main point of contention between the two sides.