ISPR says sanitisation operations continue; weapons, explosives and IEDs recovered
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 terrorist 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 the Chaman Phatak area of Quetta.
In a statement issued today, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said security forces launched a series of intelligence-based operations in different districts of Balochistan after the train attack.
Read: At least 14 martyred, including three FC personnel, in terrorist attack on train in Quetta
“Post train incident on May 24, 2026, security forces conducted a series of intelligence-based operations in Mastung, Nushki, Zehri, Khuzdar and Kech districts of Balochistan province,” the ISPR said.
It added that troops effectively engaged multiple terrorist hideouts during the operations.
“Following intense and fierce exchanges of fire, 17 terrorists belonging to Indian-sponsored Fitna-al-Hindustan have been sent to hell, giving a significant blow to the terrorist networks operating in these areas,” said the statement.
Fitna-al-Hindustan is a term used by the state to refer to terrorist groups operating in Balochistan following Operation Marka-e-Haq against India last year.
The ISPR said weapons, 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 numerous terrorist activities in the area.
“Sanitisation operations continue to eliminate terrorists from these areas, as relentless counter terrorism campaign under vision ‘Azm e Istehkam’ (as approved by Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace 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 rising every year since 2022, according to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), a global monitoring organisation. Data from ACLED shows attacks in Pakistan rose nearly fourfold to 2,425 in 2025 from 658 in 2022, and over the same period, TTP attacks increased more than sevenfold to 838 from 118.
Also Read: Major, 4 soldiers martyred in sanitisation operation in Balochistan’s Barkhan: ISPR
Although Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has borne the brunt of terrorism, Balochistan has also remained a major target of Indian proxies, which often target civilians and military installations in the province.
In one such attack on the last day of last year, terrorists targeted innocent civilians in Balochistan’s Gwadar and Kharan districts, where 18 people, including women, children, the elderly and labourers, embraced martyrdom.
Security forces and law enforcement agencies immediately responded and successfully thwarted the “evil designs” of the terrorists, killing 92 militants, while 15 security personnel also embraced martyrdom during the operation.
