Sources say he has been involved in attacks on security forces, kidnappings for ransom since 2022
Security forces killed a terrorist commander of Fitna Al-Khawarij, Adil Shah, alias Darvesh, during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Qila Saifullah, Balochistan, under Operation Radd-ul-Fitna 3, Radio Pakistan reported, citing security sources.
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. Fitna al-Khawarij is the state designation term for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
The high-tempo intelligence-driven operations are being conducted as part of the ongoing “Radd-ul-Fitna-3” campaign, which the military’s media wing has described as a counterterrorism operation aimed at eliminating Indian proxies.
According to the sources, the commander had been associated with Fitna al-Khawarij since December 2020 and had been managing the terrorist group’s financial affairs since 2024.
He had also been involved in facilitating permanent residences for foreign terrorists in Zhob, Sherani and Shaban, the source added.
Shah had been involved in attacks on security forces and kidnappings for ransom since 2022, and 19 first information reports (FIRs) had been registered against him, and a bounty of Rs2.5 million had been placed on his head, the source added.
Read: 3 terrorists killed as security forces foil attack on construction camp in Gwadar: state media
Security sources reiterated that operations against terrorists in Balochistan would continue until the last terrorist was eliminated, Radio Pakistan reported.
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, and over the same period, TTP attacks increased more than sevenfold to 838 from 118.
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.
Over the past few years, Balochistan has witnessed an increase in terrorist attacks, with militants frequently targeting convoys, abducting security personnel and civilians, and attacking security and civilian installations.
In a similar incident last week, 20 trainee police personnel were abducted by unidentified armed men while travelling between Kalat and Mastung in Balochistan.
The abducted personnel belonged to the districts of Kharan, Nushki, Chagai and Washuk in Rakhshan Division. They included eight personnel from Kharan, five from Nushki, four from Chagai and three from Washuk.
Read more: Two terrorists killed in Balochistan IBO: state media
The forces continued operations across the provinces against what the state describes as Indian-sponsored terrorists and their proxies. Still, despite these efforts, the groups have continued to target civilian and defence installations.
In one such attack in July this year, at least 30 people, including 27 police personnel, were martyred when terrorists identified by the state as the Indian proxy 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.
