ISPR says clean-up operations continue; weapons, explosives and IEDs found
Security forces have killed 17 terrorists belonging to the Indian-sponsored Fitna-al-Hindustan in a series of operations across Balochistan following the May 24 terror attack on a train in Quetta, the military’s media wing said on Tuesday.
Last month, at least 14 people, including three Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, were martyred and several others critically injured in a terrorist attack near Chaman Phatak area of Quetta.
In a statement issued today, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that security forces launched a series of intelligence-based operations in various districts of Balochistan following the train attack.
Read: At least 14 martyrs, including three FC personnel, in terror attack on train in Quetta
“Following the train incident on 24 May 2026, security forces conducted a series of intelligence-based operations in Mastung, Nushki, Zehri, Khuzdar and Kech districts of Balochistan province,” ISPR said.
It added that troops effectively engaged several terrorist hideouts during the operations.
“After intense and fierce gunfights, 17 terrorists belonging to the Indian-sponsored Fitna-al-Hindustan have been sent to hell, dealing a significant blow to the terror networks operating in these areas,” the statement said.
Fitna-al-Hindustan is a term used by the state to refer to terrorist groups operating in Balochistan after Operation Marka-e-Haq against India last year.
The ISPR said arms, ammunition, a large cache of explosives and prepared Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were recovered from the slain militants.
According to the statement, they were actively involved in several terrorist activities in the area.
“Sanitization operations continue to eliminate terrorists from these areas as the relentless counter-terrorism campaign under the vision ‘Azm e Istehkam’ (as endorsed by the Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan will continue at full speed to wipe out the menace of foreign sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” it concluded.
Terrorism is a growing problem for Pakistan, with the number of attacks increasing every year since 2022, according to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), a global monitoring organization. Data from ACLED shows that attacks in Pakistan have almost quadrupled to 2,425 in 2025 from 658 in 2022, and in the same period TTP attacks have increased more than sevenfold to 838 from 118.
Also read: Major, 4 soldiers martyred during sanitation operation in Balochistan’s Barkhan: ISPR
Although Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has borne the brunt of terrorism, Balochistan has also remained a major target for Indian proxies, who often target civilian and military installations in the province.
In one such attack on the last day of last year, terrorists attacked innocent civilians in Balochistan’s Gwadar and Kharan districts where 18 people including women, children, elderly and laborers embraced martyrdom.
Security forces and law enforcement agencies responded immediately and successfully thwarted the “evil designs” of the terrorists, killing 92 militants while 15 security personnel also embraced martyrdom during the operation.
