Security forces have killed five terrorists and recovered 23 kidnapped individuals from their hideout during an operation along the N-25 Karachi-Chaman highway near Balochistan’s Kalat, the military’s media affairs wing said on Sunday.

In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that terrorists belonging to Fitna-al-Hindustan tried to disrupt people’s movement by establishing a checkpost for abduction for ransom, extortion and snatching of vehicles along the N-25 highway, also knows as the Pakistan Expressway, on the night between Sept 18 and Sept 19.

“Security forces responded immediately and after intense fire exchange, five terrorists belonging to India-sponsored proxy of Fitna-al-Hindustan were sent to hell,” the statement said.

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

According to the ISPR, 23 abductees were recovered from the terrorists’ hideout near Kalat. Six trucks, three buses and two cars were also recovered, as well as large quantities of weapons, ammunition and explosives, the statement said.

“Successful operations by the security forces resulted in thwarting the nefarious designs of India-sponsored proxy of Fitna-al-Hindustan,” it added.

The ISPR said sanitisation operations were ongoing in the surrounding areas to eliminate any remaining terrorists and ensure the safety and security of the local population and national highways.

“The relentless counter-terrorism campaign under the vision of ‘Azm-i-Istehkam’, as approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, will continue with full resolve. Security forces and law enforcement agencies remain committed to eliminating the menace of foreign-sponsored and foreign-supported terrorism from the country,” the statement concluded.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari commended the security forces for the Kalat operation.

A statement carried by state-run APP said the premier lauded the security forces for their “timely and effective action” and praised their professional capabilities.

He reaffirmed the government’s resolve that decisive anti-terror operations would continue under Azm-i-Istehkam until the end of foreign-sponsored terrorism in the country, APP reported.

President Zardari, in a similar statement, said that the entire nation stood “shoulder to shoulder with its security forces in the fight against terrorism”.

Balochistan has been facing security challenges and terrorism, which has prompted security forces to intensify counter-terrorism operations.

The number of terrorist attacks in the province increased by seven per cent from 83 in July to 89 in August, according to a monthly assessment by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies.

The ISPR and the state media has reported several actions in the province over recent weeks.

On the night of Aug 31-Sept 1, terrorists of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) launched a coordinated attack on the Customs House, located at Ziarat Cross on the N-50 National Highway, in the Pishin district.

In retaliatory action, security forces killed 10 terrorists while two officers were among six martyred in the fire exchange, the military’s media affairs wing said.

Also on August 31, 11 terrorists belonging to Fitna-al-Hindustan, who had blocked the N-40 Quetta-Taftan highway by establishing an illegal checkpoint for extortion in Chagai’s Nokcha area, were killed following an intense exchange of fire.

On September 2, security forces killed 12 terrorists in the Kalat district during an intelligence-based operation (IBO). Days later, the troops killed 11 terrorists and recovered 2.9 tonnes of explosives during separate IBOs in Kharan and Washuk districts.

Another 36 terrorists were eliminated during multiple “high-tempo” operations conducted in Mastung, Quetta, Kalat and Sibi districts, the Inter-Services Public Relations said on September 4. These also included thwarting an attack on a police station in Sibi’s Bhag area.

On Thursday, seven terrorists were killed by security forces in an IBO in the Badrang area of Balochistan’s Awaran district, while seven terrorists were killed during two IBOs in the province’s Panjgur and Kachhi districts on Friday, the state media reported.

The killing of 11 more terrorists by security forces in Panjgur and Chagai districts under Operation Raddul Fitna 3 was reported on Saturday.