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At least 15 India-backed Fitna al-Khawarij terrorists were killed during multiple intelligence-based operations (IBOs) conducted by security forces across several districts of Balochistan, security sources said on Sunday.
The IBOs, part of Operation Rad-ul-Fitna-3, were conducted in Mastung, Bolan, Washuk, Awaran, Sibi, Khuzdar, Harnai and Nushki districts of the province, the sources added.
The operations have also led to the recovery of a large cache of weapons and ammunition.
Security forces have inflicted significant damage on the militant network operating in the province, the sources said.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised security forces for their successful IBOs in Balochistan, in which 15 terrorists were killed.
Commending the forces for their professional capabilities, Naqvi said they had thwarted the nefarious designs of Fitna al-Hindustan and Fitna al-Khawarij.
He described the security personnel fighting terrorism as the pride of the nation, praising their courage and dedication in countering terrorism threats.
Naqvi said the government remained committed to completely eliminating militants affiliated with Fitna al-Hindustan and Fitna al-Khawarij from the province.
Two days earlier, security forces killed three militants affiliated with Fitna al-Hindustan and detained 12 suspects during a search and sanitisation operation in Balochistan's Kambela and Asimabad areas in Mastung district, according to the security sources.
Pakistan witnessed a surge in terror activities, particularly in its KP and Balochistan provinces, since 2021, when the Afghan Taliban came into power.
According to a report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), the two provinces remained the country's main hotspots for violence during the second quarter of 2026, with KP emerging as the worst-affected region.
The report stated that KP and Balochistan together accounted for nearly 96% of all violence-related fatalities recorded during the quarter. Of the total deaths, more than 61% (475) were reported in KP, while Balochistan accounted for 34% (265).
KP also recorded the highest number of violent incidents, with 151 cases, representing 57% of the nationwide total. Balochistan followed with 94 incidents, or 35%, underscoring the concentration of militant activity in the two provinces.
