Quadcopter strike destroys terrorists’ vehicle as authorities vow to continue operations
Security forces pictured during a patrol. — FILE PHOTO
Three terrorists including Fitna al-Hindustan commander Naqeeb were killed by security forces during an operation in Balochistan’s Mastung district, state media said on Monday.
The federal government last year officially designated all terrorist groups operating in Balochistan as Fitna al-Hindustan, accusing India of sponsoring a proxy war through the outfits.
According to state media, the security forces targeted a vehicle carrying the terrorists using a quadcopter. The strike killed all three terrorists and completely destroyed their vehicle, Radio Pakistan and APP said, citing security sources.
The sources added that security forces remained committed to eliminating terrorism and that operations would continue until the last terrorist was eliminated.
On August 21, security forces, in coordination with police, killed 49 terrorists in a series of intelligence-based operations (IBOs) across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Balochistan over several days, according to a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
In Balochistan, 37 terrorists affiliated with Fitna al-Hindustan were killed in 10 IBOs in Mastung, Mach, Khuzdar and Panjgur districts, the military’s media wing had said. The operations had also resulted in the seizure and destruction of weapons, explosives and remote-detonation equipment, according to the ISPR.
Read: 11 terrorists neutralised in Balochistan
Terrorism is a growing problem for Pakistan, with the number of attacks rising every year since 2022, according to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), a global monitoring organisation. Data from ACLED shows attacks in Pakistan rose nearly fourfold to 2,425 in 2025 from 658 in 2022.
Although K-P has borne the brunt of terrorism, Balochistan has also remained a major target of Indian proxies, which often target civilians and military installations in the province.
In one such attack on the last day of 2025, terrorists targeted innocent civilians in Balochistan’s Gwadar and Kharan districts, where 18 people, including women, children, the elderly and labourers, embraced martyrdom.
Security forces have continued operations across the provinces against what the state describes as Indian-sponsored terrorists and their proxies, but despite these efforts, the groups have continued to target civilian and defence installations.
Earlier this month, at least 30 people, including 27 police personnel, were martyred when terrorists belonging to the Fitna al-Hindustan ambushed police personnel deployed in the Kach Mangi Phase III area of Ziarat, triggering hours-long gun battles. The attackers also abducted several civilians and police personnel after the assault.
In the aftermath of the attack, the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps and Balochistan Police launched a joint operation, which remains underway, with forces intensifying action against terrorists across the province.
