Over 70 militants killed in Balochistan in past two days: Shahid Rind

WEB DESK: More than 70 militants were killed in different parts of Balochistan over the past two days, Assistant Chief Minister Shahid Rind said on Saturday.

He added that following heavy losses, militants attempted attacks in some areas of the province, but police and Frontier Corps (FC) forces acted promptly and effectively to thwart all incidents.

Rind further stated that security forces are in full alert and pursuing militants who managed to escape. He assured the public that additional details regarding the security situation would be shared soon.

IBOs conducted in Harnai and Panjgur districts

Earlier on Friday, Pakistan army killed 41 terrorists during intelligence-based operations (IBOs) carried out in Balochistan’s Harnai and Panjgur districts, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. According to the military’s media wing, the operations were launched on January 29 following reports of terrorist activity in the respective areas.

In Harnai, the IBO targeted members of Fitna-al-Khawarij, a term used by authorities for militants linked to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Thirty terrorists were killed in the operation after an intense exchange of fire. A large quantity of weapons, ammunition, and explosives was recovered and subsequently destroyed by security forces.

In Panjgur, the operation focused on a hideout of Fitna-al-Hindustan, designated by authorities for Balochistan-based groups allegedly supported by foreign entities. Eleven militants were neutralised, and weapons, ammunition, and funds looted in a bank robbery on December 15, 2025, were recovered. ISPR stated that the killed terrorists had been involved in multiple prior attacks.

Ongoing counter-terrorism campaign

The military confirmed that sanitisation operations continue to eliminate any remaining militants in both areas. ISPR reiterated that Pakistan’s counter-terrorism campaign, under the national plan “Azm-i-Istehkam,” would continue at full pace to target foreign-backed terrorism.

Thursday’s operations follow a series of recent actions against militants in Balochistan. Two weeks earlier, security forces killed 12 terrorists in Kharan district while thwarting a planned hostage situation. On January 19, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) killed five suspected militants from the Balochistan Liberation Army in Mastung district during a planned attack on the Quetta-Sibi Highway.