Seven terrorists have been killed and several others injured during an Intelligence-Based Operation (IBO) conducted by security forces in Balochistan’s Kharan district, security forces have confirmed.
“Security forces have killed seven terrorists belonging to Fitna-al-Khawarij in an intelligence-based operation in Kharan district of Balochistan,” Radio Pakistan quoted security sources as saying on Sunday.
According to the sources, the operation was launched in Kharan’s Lajay area under Operation Radd-ul-Fitna-3 after intelligence reports indicated the presence of terrorists in the region.
Security officials said that the militants were affiliated with Fitna al-Khawarij, the state’s designated term for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Last year, the federal government officially designated terrorist groups operating in Balochistan as Fitna al-Hindustan, alleging that India was backing a proxy war through these organisations.
IBOs are part of the military’s Radd-ul-Fitna-3 campaign, which aims to target what authorities describe as Indian-backed militant networks.\
“Modern weapons, a large quantity of ammunition, other military equipment, two vehicles and a motorcycle were recovered from the terrorists’ hideouts,” the sources added.
They also demolished terrorist hideouts during the operation.
According to the sources, the militants had been involved in planning looting, extortion, kidnapping for ransom, targeted killings and suicide attacks in Kharan and Lajay.
“Security forces continued operations in Balochistan under Operation Radd-ul-Fitna-3 as part of efforts to eliminate terrorism,” the sources stated.
President Asif Ali Zardari praised the security forces for carrying out the operation. He said that the destruction of the militants’ hideouts and the recovery of weapons and ammunition marked a significant development in efforts against terrorism.
The president also maintained that operations against militant groups operating with external support remain necessary for protecting national security, adding that the nation stands with the country’s security forces in the fight against terrorism.
Earlier this week, security forces killed five terrorists, including a commander identified as Wazir, son of Jamal, during an operation in Panjgur’s Sarkeni and Chidgi areas under Operation Radd-ul-Fitna-3.
On August 9, security forces also killed 15 terrorists during an IBO in Mastung, Bolan, Washuk, Awaran, Sibi, Khuzdar, Harnai and Noshki. Reports quoted security sources that the weapons and ammunition were recovered and the operations disrupted militant networks operating across Balochistan.
On August 6, the military’s media wing reported that 12 militants belonging to Fitna al-Hindustan were killed during IBOs in the Washuk and Mastung districts.
According to data from Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), terrorist attacks in Pakistan increased from 658 in 2022 to 2,425 in 2025, while attacks attributed to the TTP rose from 118 to 838 during the same period.
