RAWALPINDI, September 27 — More than 71 terrorists have been killed during Operation Shaban and other counterterrorism operations across Balochistan over the past 96 hours, the military’s media wing said on Sunday.
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said security forces had intensified operations against what it described as Indian-sponsored Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan, with actions conducted in the Shaban area of Quetta district as well as Nushki and Mand.
According to ISPR, intelligence agencies had identified multiple militant hideouts in the general area of Shaban, prompting security forces to launch an operation in Ziarat and surrounding areas on September 21.
During Operation Shaban, troops engaged militants and cleared multiple hideouts following exchanges of fire. ISPR said 33 terrorists had been killed in the operation so far, while weapons, ammunition and explosives were recovered.
The military said the operation was intensified over the past 72 hours, during which 23 terrorists were killed. Security forces have cleared a large area, while the clearance operation remains underway to eliminate remaining threats, it added.
The latest figures mark a sharp rise from those reported earlier in the operation. On September 23, ISPR had said 19 terrorists had been killed in operations in Balochistan, including 13 in the Shaban area and six in separate engagements.
11 killed in Nushki operation
ISPR said security forces carried out a separate intelligence-based operation in Nushki district on September 25 after receiving information about a militant hideout.
Troops engaged the hideout and killed 11 terrorists following an exchange of fire, according to the statement. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered.
The Nushki operation and its reported death toll of 11 had also been reported a day earlier as part of the continuing security operations in Balochistan.
In another operation in Mand, security forces killed six terrorists described by ISPR as members of Fitna al-Hindustan and recovered a large quantity of weapons and ammunition.
Overall, ISPR said more than 71 terrorists had been killed during Operation Shaban and operations elsewhere in Balochistan during the past 96 hours. The latest overall figure was also reported by Pakistani media on Sunday.
ISPR alleges Afghan Taliban, Indian backing
In its statement, ISPR alleged that militant activity inside Pakistan was being facilitated by the Afghan Taliban regime and backed and sponsored by India. These are claims made by the Pakistani military; the statement did not provide independently verifiable evidence for the allegations.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused militant groups operating from Afghan territory of carrying out attacks inside the country and has also accused India of supporting militant networks. Earlier this month, DG ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry publicly reiterated Pakistan’s allegation that India was sponsoring terrorism, while calling for Afghan soil not to be used for attacks against Pakistan.
ISPR said the counterterrorism campaign would continue under the vision of Azm-e-Istehkam, approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan.
Security forces and law enforcement agencies remain committed to eliminating what the military described as foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from Pakistan, the statement added.