ISPR says seven terrorists were killed in exchange of fire in Barkhan’s Nosham area
Major Tauseef Ahmed Bhatti and four other military personnel were martyred during an area clearance operation in Balochistan’s Barkhan district on Wednesday, the military’s media wing said.
“On the morning of 13 May 2026, troops of the Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps Balochistan began an area clearance operation in the general area of Nosham in Barkhan District to eliminate Indian-backed terrorists Fitna Al Hindustan“, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.
In Balochistan, the security forces’ successful action was carried out by the security forces pic.twitter.com/wT79J5xo6U
— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) 13 May 2026
It said the troops located and engaged a group of terrorists. “During exchange of fire, seven terrorists supported from Indian Fitna Al Hindustan were sent to hell,” ISPR added, further saying that arms, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from them.
Read: 22 terrorists killed in intelligence-based operation in KP, military says
‘Fitna al-Hindustan‘ is a term used by the state to refer to all terrorist groups operating in Balochistan.
The ISPR said Major Bhatti, 31, a resident of Pakpattan district, was martyred along with Naik Fida Hussain, 36, of Sukkur; Sepoy Zakir Hussain, 32, from Skardu; Sepoy Suhail Ahmed, 21, of Khanewal, and Sepoy Muhammad Ayaz, 24, of Rahim Yar Khan.
The military’s media wing said the clearing operation in the surrounding areas continued to eliminate all other “Indian-sponsored terrorists” present.
“Relentless campaign against terrorism under the vision of ‘Azm e Istehkam’ (as endorsed by the Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by Pakistan’s security forces and law enforcement agencies will continue at full speed to wipe out the menace of foreign sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” the statement concluded.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the officers and personnel of the security forces for conducting an operation against terrorists in Nosham area of Balochistan’s Barkhan district.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, while paying tribute to Major Bhatti and other soldiers who were martyred during the operation, the Prime Minister also prayed for the elevation of their ranks and expressed condolences to their families.
“These great sons of the soil set a remarkable example of loyalty while defending the country against terrorists,” the Prime Minister said.
“The nation of Pakistan will never forget the immense sacrifices of its martyrs,” he added.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said officers and personnel of the security forces remained engaged day and night in protecting the country.
“In the unwavering resolve to defend the homeland, the entire nation, including myself, stands shoulder to shoulder with our brave security forces,” he said.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also paid tribute to Major Bhatti and the four soldiers who were martyred during the operation.
In a statement, the Home Minister expressed sympathy and condolences to the families of the martyrs.
Naqvi said Major Bhatti and the soldiers fought bravely and sent seven terrorists “to hell”.
He said the security personnel had foiled the nefarious designs of “Indian-sponsored terrorists” through their sacrifices and courage.
“I pay tribute to the sacrifice of Major Tauseef Ahmed Bhatti and the other martyrs,” the minister said, adding that every drop of the martyrs’ blood was a guarantee for the protection of the country.
“Every martyr, including Major Tauseef Ahmed, is the crown on our heads,” he said.
The Home Minister said that the martyrs sacrificed their precious lives for the motherland and achieved the high status of martyrdom. “Major Tauseef Ahmed and the other martyrs will always remain alive in our hearts,” he added.
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.
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.
