QUETTA, Pakistan: Pakistan’s security forces launched a search operation in Balochistan’s Washuk district on Sunday after terrorists of the Indian-backed Fitna al-Hindustan group shot dead five innocent labourers in the Mashkel area.
Security sources said security forces swiftly cordoned off the area following the attack and began a search operation to track down the terrorists involved in the attack on innocent labourers.
“The attack on the innocent labourers was carried out by Fitna al-Hindustan terrorists,” security sources said, referring to Indian-sponsored terrorist groups involved in terrorist attacks in Balochistan.
The victims included Mohammad Bilal, Mohammad Hussain, Muhammad Qadeer, Mohsin and Bilal, security sources added. All the workers martyred in the attack by the terrorists belong to Punjab, security sources said.
“Cowardly terrorists of Fitna-ul-Hindustan targeted innocent and unarmed workers,” security sources said.
According to security experts, defeated by security forces, the cowardly terrorists of Fitna-ul-Hindustan are now targeting innocent civilians and soft targets.
For their nefarious intentions, Fitna-ul-Hindustan is conspiring to spread fear and panic in the area by targeting innocent civilians on ethnic grounds, experts said.
Some time ago, a family that came to Quetta from Karachi for fun was also targeted by the same terrorist group, experts said.
Deputy Commissioner Abdul Majeed Sarparah told the media that terrorists gunned down five workers hailing from Punjab in the Mashkail area of Washuk district on Sunday.
The incident occurred amid ongoing counterterrorism Operation Shaban and other counterterrorism operations in the province, in which the security forces have eliminated 109 terrorists since July 5.
“The incident took place in Mashkail town, when terrorists riding motorcycles opened fire on shops where the labourers from Punjab were working,” DC Sarparah told the media.
President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the terrorist attack on innocent workers in the Mashkil area of Balochistan.
The President, in a statement, expressed profound grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives in the terrorist attack, and extended heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the families of the martyrs.
“Targeting innocent citizens and toiling workers is open barbarism. Such cowardly attacks cannot shake the nation’s resolve,” President Zardari said.
“The terrorists of Fitna al-Hindustan and their facilitators will be brought to justice. The state will continue to take every possible measure to protect the lives and property of citizens,” President Zardari said.
صدرِ مملکت آصف علی زرداری کا بلوچستان کی ضلع واشک کے علاقے ماشکیل میں معصوم مزدوروں پر دہشت گرد حملے کی شدید مذمت۔
صدرِ مملکت کا دہشت گرد حملے میں قیمتی جانوں کے ضیاع پر گہرے دکھ اور افسوس کا اظہار، شہداء کے اہلِ خانہ سے دلی ہمدردی اور تعزیت۔
معصوم شہریوں اور محنت کش مزدوروں کو…
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) July 12, 2026
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned the killing of the unarmed labourers, saying terrorists had once again exposed their “sinister intentions” by targeting innocent workers.
“The objective of terrorists is not the pursuit of any cause but to spread terror, hatred and destabilise Pakistan,” Chief Minister Bugti said, adding that action against those challenging the writ of the state would become “more decisive”.
Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind also condemned the incident, saying the provincial government had taken notice of the attack and ordered an investigation.
“Those involved in the killing of innocent citizens will not escape the grip of the law,” Rind said, adding that the government stood with the bereaved families in their time of grief.
The incident comes amid ongoing security operations across the province, during which dozens of India-backed terrorists have been killed.
Security forces launched Operation Shaban following the attack on the Mangi Dam police station in Ziarat. The operation is being conducted jointly by the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps (FC), and Balochistan Police, security sources said.
On Sunday, security forces killed another seven terrorists during the ongoing Operation Shaban in Balochistan, following which the total number of terrorists killed in the operation reached 71.
Another four terrorists were killed during the ongoing Operation Shaban in the Saran Tangi area of Balochistan, taking the total number of terrorists killed in the operation to 71@OfficialDGISPR #RadioPakistan #News https://t.co/mqkNt6FQtZ pic.twitter.com/3ZLP03JeDg
— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) July 12, 2026
Security sources said a total of 109 “khawarij terrorists” have been killed in Operation Shaban and other intelligence-based operations in Balochistan since July 5.
Pakistan witnessed a surge in terror activities, particularly in its Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, since 2021, when the Afghan Taliban came into power.
In response, Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, targeting terrorist hideouts across the border.
Despite several rounds of talks, both countries have been unable to reach an agreement, largely due to the Afghan Taliban regime’s reluctance to take action against terrorist outfits.
