Pakistan Military Rejects False Impression of Deteriorating Security in Balochistan

July 31, 2026 at 4:45 PM
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s military on Friday rejected a deliberate attempt to portray Balochistan’s security situation as deteriorating, as it unveiled new figures showing the scale of counterterrorism operations carried out across the country this year.

Addressing a press conference on counterterrorism and the country’s security situation, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said there were “deliberate attempts to create the impression that the security situation in Balochistan has deteriorated.”

“There are deliberate attempts to create the impression that the security situation in Balochistan has deteriorated,” he said.  “There are deliberate attempts to create the impression that the security situation in Balochistan has deteriorated,” he said.

The military spokesperson also criticised sections of the province’s tribal leadership.

“Some of the elite and Sardars (tribal leaders) in Balochistan do not want children from poor families to progress,” he said.

“We will not talk to you; we will talk to the people of Balochistan.”

Pakistan Counterterrorism Operations 

Lt Gen Chaudhry said security forces had carried out 40,348 intelligence-based operations across Pakistan so far this year, killing 2,084 confirmed terrorists.

He said security forces were conducting an average of 194 intelligence-based operations every day.

“So these IBOs are going on every hour.”

According to the military spokesperson, the operations have resulted in an average of 10 terrorists being killed each day.

“This comes to an average of 10 terrorists being killed every day, which is the highest ratio ever,” he said.

Comparing the figures with last year, he said security forces killed 2,597 terrorists in 2025, while 2,084 had been killed so far in 2026.

The military spokesperson ruled out further negotiations with terrorists, saying there was no room left for talks.

“Either you surrender, or we will fight you,” he said.

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Terrorism Statistics

The ISPR director general said Pakistan had recorded 3,145 terrorism incidents this year, including 1,971 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 1,148 in Balochistan and 26 in other parts of the country.

He added that more than 31,000 of the intelligence-based operations were conducted in Balochistan.

Casualties

Lt Gen Chaudhry said 819 Pakistanis had embraced martyrdom in terrorism-related incidents this year, averaging four deaths per day.

The figure included 303 army personnel, 194 members of the police and civil armed forces, and 322 civilians.

He added that 28 suicide attacks had been recorded across the country this year.

“The majority of which were carried out by Afghan nationals.”

Also Read: Pakistan Security Forces Kill Four Indian-Backed Terrorists in Balochistan

He also said Afghan nationals were responsible for the recent suicide attacks in Tank district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and in Karachi.

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Ongoing Security Campaign

The military briefing came as Pakistan’s security forces continue nationwide counterterrorism operations under the Azm-e-Istehkam campaign, aimed at combating militant groups and improving the country’s security situation.

The DG ISPR added this also had to do with the “agenda of the terrorist-supporting Taliban regime” and the clarity that the state of Pakistan had.

“These terrorists and their sponsors have come to understand that there is no space for appeasement or any talks with them […] They know that the state is telling them very clearly that either you submit to the state’s will in accordance with law and the Constitution, otherwise we are here and fighting,” he said.

Moreover, he added, this also had to do with the proactive nature of the operations. “These [terrorism] incidents also rise because when we get proactive […] there will be more engagements.”

Rise in Terrorist Incidents

Responding to a question about the rise in terrorist incidents, the DG ISPR said: “You must ask why incidents are increasing. It has to do with the agenda of terrorists affiliated with the Taliban and with the clarity that Pakistan has. These terrorists have come to understand that there is no room for appeasement now.”

“Once they know that the state is very clearly telling them, ‘Submit in front of the state, otherwise we are here, we are standing here and fighting,’ it changes the dynamic,” he said.

The DG ISPR added that the increase in incidents was also linked to more proactive intelligence-based operations.

“Once we get more proactive and engage, once we are doing more effective intelligence-based operations, there will be engagement and incidents increase,” he said.

Missing Prsons Issue

Lt Gen Chaudhry said figures regarding missing persons are often presented inconsistently, with claims ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 individuals.

Speaking on the issue, the DG ISPR said that a commission had been established to address cases of missing persons, and that applications had been submitted to the body for investigation.

He stated that the commission received 2,900 applications from Balochistan, adding that the identities of 2,700 individuals mentioned in those cases had since been established.

The military spokesperson further said that many of the terrorists killed during security operations were found to be among those previously reported as missing persons.

Kashmir Remains Unfinished Agenda

On the Kashmir issue, he said that “Kashmir remains the unfinished agenda of Partition and the most beloved child of Pakistan. Kashmiris hold a special place in Pakistan’s heart.”

DG ISPR said around one million Indian security personnel remain deployed in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), while vested interests continue to pursue an agenda of creating chaos.

He said the monopoly on the legitimate use of force rests solely with the state, adding that no one is allowed to resort to violence. “Pakistan is acting with wisdom and restraint in safeguarding peace and stability,” he said.

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