Pakistan’s security forces killed 48 terrorists in a series of intelligence based operations across Mastung, Quetta, Kalat and Sibi districts of Balochistan over the past 48 to 72 hours, the military’s media wing said on Friday.
Six Militants Killed in Mastung Firefight
The Inter-Services Public Relations said security forces identified and engaged a group of terrorists during an operation in Mastung on September 4, resulting in an intense exchange of fire that killed six militants described as Indian sponsored. A cache of ammunition and improvised explosive devices was recovered and destroyed at the site, according to the ISPR statement carried by the Express Tribune and Radio Pakistan. ISPR said the operations targeted groups it calls Fitna al Hindustan and Fitna al Khawarij, terms the military uses to describe militants it says are backed by India.
Largest Toll Came From Quetta Raid
The single largest toll came from an operation in the Shaban area of Quetta district, where security forces targeted four hideouts linked to Fitna al Khawarij, killing 26 militants, the ISPR said. Two more Indian sponsored terrorists were killed in a separate raid on a hideout in Kalat, and two others were killed in a retaliatory operation in the Bagh area of Sibi district. Combined with the Mastung toll, the ISPR said 36 militants were killed in the 24 hours before the Quetta operation, with the total reaching 48 once the wider 48 to 72 hour window is counted.
Part of a Broader 2026 Campaign
The military said more than 1,188 terrorists have been killed in counterterrorism operations across Balochistan so far in 2026, and that operations under its Azm-e-Istehkam campaign would continue until the last terrorist is eliminated, according to the Nation. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the security forces for the results of the latest operations, calling the toll a major achievement and reiterating the government’s commitment to continuing the campaign until terrorism is eliminated from the country, the Daily Qudrat reported.
Balochistan has faced a sustained wave of militant violence in recent years, with security forces conducting near daily operations against groups the government says are seeking to destabilize the resource rich but underdeveloped province. Officials have repeatedly framed the counterterrorism campaign as essential to protecting both civilians and ongoing development projects in the region.
