Security forces have killed four terrorists linked to an Indian-sponsored network, Fitna al-Hindustan, during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Kalat district of Balochistan, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Tuesday.
According to the military’s media wing, the operation was carried out on the night of November 1 following credible intelligence about the presence of militants associated with the Indian proxy group.
“During the operation, our troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ hideout, sending four Indian-sponsored militants to hell,” the ISPR stated.
Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the slain militants, who were reportedly involved in several terrorist activities targeting security forces and civilians.
The ISPR added that a sanitisation operation is currently underway in the area to eliminate any remaining threats. It reaffirmed that the nationwide counterterrorism campaign under Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, approved by the federal apex committee on the National Action Plan (NAP), will continue with full intensity to root out foreign-backed terrorism.
President Asif Ali Zardari praised the security forces for their successful operation, saying the entire nation stands united behind its defenders in their mission to eradicate terrorism from Pakistan.
This development comes a day after the ISPR confirmed the killing of three terrorists in two separate operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan and Tank districts.
In North Waziristan’s Esham area, troops detected a group of militants attempting to infiltrate through the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Security personnel promptly engaged them, killing all three in a precise strike.
Pakistan continues to face a surge in terror attacks, especially in KP and Balochistan, since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021. Islamabad has repeatedly urged the interim Afghan government to act against groups responsible for cross-border attacks, but the regime has largely failed to meet these expectations.
Despite tensions, Pakistan and Afghanistan recently extended their ceasefire following talks in Istanbul held from October 25 to 30. Both sides agreed to establish a monitoring and verification mechanism to maintain peace and punish any violators. The next round of discussions is set for November 6, where operational details of the joint framework will be finalised.
