12 terrorists killed as forces fight off multiple attacks in Balochistan’s Kharan

QUETTA/ISLAMABAD:

At least a dozen terrorists were killed by security forces after they launched coordinated attacks on government and commercial buildings in northwestern Balochistan, the military’s media wing said on Friday, adding that a hostage-taking attempt by the attackers was also thwarted.

Around 15 to 20 terrorists affiliated with India-sponsored Fitna al-Hindustan carried out multiple attacks in Kharan City, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. Their targets included the Kharan City police station, the National Bank of Pakistan, and Habib Bank Limited.

According to the ISPR, the terrorists looted Rs3.4 million in cash from the banks. They also attempted to take hostages at the police station, but the timely and effective response of security forces foiled their plans.

The government has officially designated Baloch terrorist groups as “Fitna al-Hindustan” to highlight their role as proxies of India, which Islamabad says is seeking to destabilise Pakistan, particularly Balochistan, as part of a broader hybrid warfare strategy.

Mop-up operations are ongoing in Kharan and surrounding areas, the military’s media wing said. Under the National Action Plan and the federally approved vision Azm-e-Istihkam, security forces remain committed to counterterrorism operations until foreign-sponsored terrorism is eradicated from the country, it added.

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti praised the security forces for their swift action, confirming that one civilian was wounded during the operation and is being treated at the Combined Military Hospital. He said four terrorists were killed immediately at three locations, while the remaining attackers were neutralised in subsequent engagements.

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Such incidents indicate a worrying trend, with terrorists increasingly shifting from ideological activity to organised criminal acts, including bank robberies, he said. “Whenever they come onto the streets, they will be defeated, and whenever they try to hide in their holes, we will ferret them out through intelligence-based operations (IBOs).”

CM Bugti described this as a fully operational “response mechanism” based on intelligence shared by local communities.He also raised concerns about digital infrastructure in Balochistan’s remote areas, questioning the installation of mobile internet towers in sparsely populated regions such as Sangan. He warned that unchecked 4G networks could create security vulnerabilities and called for clarification on who authorised these installations, cautioning that such facilities could be exploited by hostile elements to target law enforcement agencies and undermine state security.

The chief minister announced a major provincial initiative worth Rs3 billion to expand fibre optic connectivity across Balochistan. The project aims to link schools, colleges, universities, and hospitals through fibre optic cables, ensuring broader internet access while maintaining oversight to prevent misuse.

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He highlighted the broader regional context, linking the recent rise in security challenges to developments following the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul in 2021. Citing official military figures, he said law enforcement agencies conducted more than 75,000 IBOs nationwide in 2025, resulting in the killing of over 2,500 terrorists.

Afghanistan, following the return of Taliban rule, has once again become a staging ground for transnational groups and a haven for terrorists, a fact endorsed by the UN Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team in its latest report.

The Kabul regime insists that no terrorist groups operate in or from Afghanistan. That position, however, collapses under the weight of evidence presented by UN member states. As the UN monitoring team says, the Taliban’s handling of terrorism remains the central concern. “The de facto authorities continue to deny that any terrorist groups have a footprint in or operate from its territory. That claim is not credible,” the report states.

Read More: Eleven Indian-backed militants killed in K-P operations, ISPR says

More troubling is the emergence of a nexus between religious extremists, including the TTP and TTP–Jamaatul Ahrar, and ethno-nationalist groups such as the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and its Majeed Brigade, allegedly facilitated by the Afghan Taliban, further complicating Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts.

Intelligence assessments point to a sustained presence of Baloch groups, including the BLA, in Afghanistan. Senior figures are believed to be operating from Kandahar and Kabul, with Kandahar’s Ain-o-Mina area long identified as a logistical hub. A senior BLA operative, Aslam Achhu, was previously killed there. In Kabul, militants are reportedly embedded within civilian neighbourhoods, including the old city areas around Pul-e-Khishti and the affluent Wazir Akbar Khan district.

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to the security forces and law enforcement agencies for successfully thwarting the operation by ‘India-backed’ Fitna-al-Hindustan terrorists in Balochistan.

He commended the security forces for their timely and effective response, which prevented significant losses, according to an official statement. Expressing resolve against anti-national elements, he said, “The evil intentions of these forces will be foiled at all costs. The state will continue to respond to anti-national elements with full force.”