QUETTA, Pakistan: Pakistan’s military said it had killed 41 terrorists in two operations in Balochistan, as security forces press an ongoing counter-terrorism campaign in the country’s southwest.
The military media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said on Friday that the first operation was conducted on the outskirts of Harnai district after intelligence reports indicated the presence of a terrorist hideout.
Troops engaged the site, triggering a prolonged exchange of fire that left 30 terrorists dead. Weapons, ammunition, and explosives were recovered and destroyed at the location, it added.
“A large cache of ammunition and explosives was also recovered from the killed Khwarij & destroyed on the spot,” ISPR said.
A second operation took place in Panjgur district, where forces dismantled another hideout and killed 11 terrorists, according to the statement. ISPR said arms and ammunition were seized, along with cash allegedly looted during a bank robbery in Panjgur last month.
The military statement described the attackers as belonging to groups it referred to as “Fitna al-Khwarij” and “Fitna al-Hindustan,” terms used by Pakistani authorities to describe armed factions accused of carrying out attacks inside the country. The army alleged the groups were supported by India.
ISPR said follow-up “sanitisation operations” were underway to eliminate any remaining threats in the area.
Pakistan has intensified counter-terrorism efforts under its “Azm-e-Istehkam” strategy, approved by the Federal Apex Committee as part of the National Action Plan, aimed at curbing militant violence and restoring security in restive regions.
Balochistan, bordering Iran and Afghanistan, has been the focus of government-led development and infrastructure initiatives.
