ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security forces have killed a key terrorist commander of an Indian-backed proxy and mastermind of last year’s attack on the headquarters of Frontier Corps Balochistan (North) in the southwestern city of Quetta, during an intense intelligence-based operation, security officials said on Wednesday.
Identified as Baseer, a senior commander of Fitna al Khawarij, was the mastermind of the attack that took place on 30 September 2025, which killed 10 people and left more than 30 others injured.
The state refers to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist group as “Fitna al-Khwarij” and its members as “Khwarij” or “Khariji.”
According to the security officials, since the attack, 15 terrorists involved in the attack have been killed in different operations, but terrorist Baseer remained at large.
Officials say that on the night of 14-15 May, security forces conducted an operation in Shaban where 33 terrorists had established a camp. Later, it was revealed that Kharji Baseer was the commander of the Shaban Camp.
The security forces intensified their search operation on 20th May and successfully killed Baseer while one of his close accomplices was apprehended alive, security officials say.
According to security officials, Baseer was the son of renowned terrorist Noorullah, a resident of Gulistan, Chaman.
He remained involved in a suicide attack on Wing headquarters in Chaman, FC post at Liralai and Quadcopter attacks against Security Forces.
His killing sends a clear message to the terrorists that they can run, but they can’t hide from the security forces.
“We will hunt them to the deepest depths, the highest peaks and the farthest wasteland and kill each and every one of them,” a security official affirmed.
Terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in cross-border terrorist attacks since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Kabul in August 2021.
Islamabad has repeatedly asked the Taliban regime to take decisive and credible action against terrorist groups based in Afghanistan; however, the Taliban regime failed to curb terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil, particularly the TTP.
Afghanistan continues to remain a major regional security concern due to the presence of terrorist groups.
Pakistan has repeatedly expressed concern over the presence of terrorist sanctuaries inside Afghanistan, particularly those linked to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist group.
TTP is involved in various terrorist attacks inside Pakistan, as the terrorist group enjoys support from the Taliban regime and freely operates in Afghanistan.
According to reports, some Afghan Taliban commanders are acting as facilitators for TTP terrorists, helping them regroup after attacks inside Pakistan.
Afghanistan remains terrorism hub
Last week, Russia’s Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu warned that Afghanistan remains a major source of terrorism, saying thousands of terrorists linked to various terrorist groups continue to operate freely inside the country.
Speaking at the 21st Meeting of the Secretaries of Security Councils of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Shoigu said between 18,000 and 23,000 terrorists affiliated with more than 20 terrorist groups were currently active in Afghanistan, Russia’s state-run TASS news agency reported.
Shoigu said around 3,000 terrorists linked to the Islamic State group were also present in Afghanistan, underscoring growing concerns among SCO member states over terrorism and cross-border security threats originating from the country.
The Russian Security Council chief warned about the movement of foreign fighters from Syria into Afghanistan and the expansion of terrorist infrastructure in the region.
He said there were increasing numbers of Uyghur, Tajik and Uzbek terrorists relocating from Syria to Afghanistan.
