Security forces kill one terrorist in Balochistan’s Kech operation: security sources

Security forces killed a terrorist belonging to Fitna al-Hindustan during an operation in Balochistan’s Kech district, Pakistan Television (PTV) reported on Friday, citing security sources.

According to the security sources, the operation was carried out in the Mazaband Range area near the Pakistan-Iran border after security forces detected the terrorist movement based on credible intelligence,

The forces launched a timely operation and foiled the terrorists’ attempt to flee into Iran, according to the sources. “Security forces remain committed to eliminating terrorism from Balochistan,” the sources said, adding that operations would continue “until the last terrorist is eliminated”.

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.

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 described as a counterterrorism operation aimed at eliminating Indian proxies.

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.

Read: 23 abductees rescued, 5 terrorists killed as security forces thwart attempt to set up check post near Kalat

Although Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (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.

On August 21, security forces, in coordination with police, killed 49 terrorists in a series of IBOs across K-P and Balochistan over several days.

Earlier this week, security forces killed seven terrorists in Balochistan; six more were killed near Kalat.

On Tuesday, security sources said six terrorists affiliated with the group were killed and nine suspected individuals arrested during an intelligence-based operation in the Saran Tangi area under Operation Shaban 2.

A day earlier, four terrorists were killed in an exchange of fire with security forces in Panjgur district during an operation in the Aphan Koh area of Prom Paroom, according to state-run Radio Pakistan. The operation was conducted under the ongoing Operation Radd-ul-Fitna 3, with security sources saying a large quantity of modern weapons and ammunition had also been recovered from the slain terrorists.