Security forces killed 17 terrorists during intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in different districts of Balochistan following the suicide car bomb attack against a shuttle train in Quetta, said a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Tuesday.

At least 14 people were killed and 20 others were injured in the incident, which took place on May 24.

The IBOs were conducted in the districts of Mastung, Nushki, Khuzdar and Kech.

The military’s media wing added that multiple terrorist locations were targeted by security personnel during these 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,” the statement read.

The state has designated Balochistan-based terrorist groups as Fitna-al-Hindustan to highlight India’s alleged role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan.

ISPR added that weapons, ammunition and a large cache of explosives were recovered from the dead terrorists, as well as improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

It added that the terrorists remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area.

“Sanitisation operations continue to eliminate terrorists from these areas, as [the] 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,” ISPR stated.

Last month, a major was among five soldiers martyred during an area sanitisation operation in Balochistan’s Barkhan district, according to ISPR.

At least seven terrorists were also killed during the operation, and the operation was carried out by the Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps.

There has been a resurgence in terrorism in Pakistan since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021.

Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Taliban administration to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries on Afghan soil, particularly those linked to the banned TTP. Officials say those appeals have gone unheeded.