QUETTA: Security forces and the Balochistan Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) killed nine terrorists, including a key commander of a banned outfit, in two separate operations in Mastung, Pishin and Qila Abdullah districts, officials said on Monday.

According to officials, security forces killed three terrorists, including commander Naqeeb, during an operation in Mastung. The forces targeted a vehicle carrying the terrorists with a quadcopter. The precision strike killed all three terrorists and completely destroyed the vehicle.

Meanwhile, six terrorists of a banned outfit were killed in a separate operation conducted by the CTD, police and other law enforcement agencies in Pishin and Qila Abdullah districts.

“Four personnel of the CTD have been injured in the gun battle, which continued for an hour in villages on the outskirts of Saranan,” a CTD spokesman said.

There were reports of five terrorists being arrested in the operation, but officials had not confirmed them until the filing of this report.

The spokesman said the operation was conducted on the basis of intelligence-based information in Killi Sultan, Azhram, Dinar and Gelo areas of Pishin, as well as other identified locations in the two districts.

A sizeable quantity of weapons and other material was recovered from the arrested suspects.

Further investigation is underway to obtain information about their networks, facilitators and planned terrorist activities.

The operation was jointly led by the Zhob Range DIG, the CTD commander and the Pishin SSP.

The bodies of the slain terrorists and injured CTD personnel were shifted to Quetta Civil Hospital.

Balochistan CM Sarfraz Bugti praised the security forces for the successful operation, saying that the timely and effective action reflected the state institutions’ firm resolve and professional capabilities in combating terrorism.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2026