Islamabad, September 30, 2026: Security forces killed four India-backed terrorists in separate operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, security sources said on Wednesday.
According to the sources, three terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij were killed during an intelligence-based operation in Mir Ali, North Waziristan. A large quantity of weapons and ammunition was recovered, while militant hideouts were also destroyed.
In Balochistan, security forces conducted an operation under Operation Radd-ul-Fitna 3 against Fitna al-Hindustan near Mal Madarsa in Surab district, killing one terrorist.
The operation was launched after security forces received intelligence about the presence of terrorists between Mal Madarsa and Bategu, the sources said. One terrorist was killed in an exchange of fire, while another managed to escape. Weapons and a motorcycle were recovered from the slain terrorist.
Security forces remain committed to maintaining peace and eliminating terrorism from Balochistan, the sources said.
Meanwhile, in Tank district of KP, a terrorist affiliated with Fitna al-Khawarij was killed when an explosive device he was carrying detonated prematurely while he was travelling towards a patwar office, according to security sources.
The terrorist was allegedly attempting to target the patwar office over an extortion-related dispute when the device exploded accidentally. The blast damaged two houses adjacent to the government office, causing parts of their walls to collapse.
The latest operations come amid intensified counterterrorism operations in Balochistan.
On September 27, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said more than 70 terrorists had been killed in several operations across the province over four days.
According to the military’s account, the operations included a major action in the Shaban area, where 17 terrorists were killed in one phase and another 56 were killed during a subsequent clearance operation. Operations were also conducted in Nushki and Mand.
On September 29, security sources said seven militants had been killed in separate operations in KP and Balochistan. Five Fitna al-Khawarij terrorists were reportedly killed in Bara, while two Fitna al-Hindustan terrorists were killed in Balochistan’s Nokcha area.
Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants, while hideouts were destroyed during the Bara operation.
Pakistan has witnessed an increase in terrorist activity, particularly in KP and Balochistan, since 2021, when the Afghan Taliban returned to power.
According to a Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) report, the two provinces remained the country’s main hotspots for violence during the second quarter of 2026, with KP recording the highest toll.
The report said KP and Balochistan together accounted for nearly 96% of all violence-related fatalities recorded nationwide during the quarter. KP recorded more than 61% of the deaths, with 475 fatalities, while Balochistan accounted for 34%, with 265 deaths.
KP also recorded the highest number of violent incidents, with 151 cases, representing 57% of the nationwide total. Balochistan followed with 94 incidents, accounting for 35%, highlighting the concentration of militant activity in the two provinces.
