ISPR says fighters linked to Fitna al Hindustan as counterterrorism drive continues
Pakistani security forces killed eight militants during an intelligence-based operation in Kalat district of Balochistan on December 24, the military said on Thursday.
In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the militants were linked to Fitna al Hindustan, a group Pakistan describes as an Indian proxy operating in the province.
The state has designated several Balochistan-based militant groups as Fitna al Hindustan to highlight what it says is India’s role in terrorism and destabilisation in Pakistan.
The ISPR said the operation involved a heavy exchange of fire after security forces identified the militants’ location. All eight were killed during the engagement.
Weapons, ammunition and explosives were recovered from the site. The militants were said to have been involved in multiple attacks in the area.
Sanitisation operations were continuing to ensure no other militants remained in the vicinity, the statement said.
The military said the counterterrorism campaign would continue at full pace under “Azm-e-Istehkam”, a federal initiative approved by the National Action Plan’s Federal Apex Committee, to eliminate foreign-sponsored terrorism.
Read: 12 Indian-backed terrorists killed in Kalat IBO: ISPR
The latest operation follows a similar raid in Kalat on December 6, when security forces killed 12 militants during an intelligence-based operation, according to the ISPR. Weapons and explosives were also recovered in that operation.
Kalat lies in central Balochistan along the mountainous belt south of Quetta. It intersects key regional routes, including the N-25 highway linking Quetta with Karachi and Gwadar.
The district is about 140 to 160 kilometres south of Quetta by road and sits at an elevation of around 2,000 metres above sea level.
Its mountainous and semi-arid terrain, marked by narrow valleys and plateaux, has long complicated security operations and restricted road access.
The rugged and sparsely populated landscape has historically provided hideouts for militant groups and enabled movement corridors in the region.
Read more: Forces kill four terrorists in Kalat IBO
Security forces have carried out multiple intelligence-based operations in Kalat and neighbouring districts this year amid a sustained militant threat.
In early 2025, operations were intensified across central Balochistan, including Khuzdar and Awaran districts, following a rise in attacks targeting infrastructure and security patrols.
Officials say several operations during the first quarter of the year led to arrests and recoveries of arms linked to banned outfits.
Pakistan ranked second in the Global Terrorism Index 2025, with deaths from terrorist attacks rising by 45 per cent compared with the previous year.
In October, the Islamabad-based Centre for Research and Security Studies said violence surged in the third quarter of 2025 due to an increase in militant attacks and intensified counterterrorism operations.
