15 terrorists killed in security forces’ operations across Balochistan

WEB DESK: Pakistan’s security forces have killed 15 militants in two separate intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Balochistan province, according to a statement issued on Saturday by the military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The operations were conducted on 5 March 2025 in Harnai and Basima districts and targeted militants described by authorities as Indian-sponsored proxies. Among those killed were members of Fitna al-Khawarij – a term used by the state for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) – and Fitna al-Hindustan, a designation applied to separatist militant groups operating in Balochistan, including factions linked to the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).

In the first operation, carried out in Harnai district after intelligence indicated the presence of a militant hideout, security forces engaged the suspects in a fierce exchange of fire. According to the ISPR, 12 militants were killed during the encounter.

A separate operation in Basima district targeted a group of Fitna al-Hindustan militants. Security forces tracked the suspects and confronted them in what the military described as an intense firefight involving mixed-calibre weapons, leaving three militants dead.

Weapons, ammunition and explosives were recovered from the slain militants, who the military said had been involved in a number of terrorist activities in the region.

Continued counter-terrorism drive

Sanitisation operations are continuing in both areas to ensure that any remaining militant presence is eliminated, the ISPR said.

The military reiterated that Pakistan’s counter-terrorism campaign would continue under the framework of Azm-i-Istehkam, an initiative aimed at dismantling militant networks and eradicating what authorities describe as foreign-sponsored terrorism.

The latest operations come amid persistent security challenges in Balochistan and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In recent weeks, security forces have carried out several similar operations, including an IBO in Bannu district earlier this week, while dozens of militants were reportedly neutralised across the two provinces last month.

No casualties among security personnel were reported in the latest operations in Balochistan, the statement added.