• Heavy weapons and ammunition recovered from slain terrorists
• President, prime minister, Balochistan chief minister praise security forces for successful operations
NORTH WAZIRISTAN/QUETTA: Security forces eliminated 18 terrorists in separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, state media reported on Wednesday, citing security sources.
In KP, according to PTV, security forces “killed 13 Fitna al-Khawarij terrorists in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in North Waziristan, as operations against terrorist groups continue under the Azm-i-Istehkam vision”.
Separately, in Balochistan’s Mastung district, security forces killed five terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Hindustan, the state media reported.
It added that security forces recovered heavy weapons and ammunition from the slain terrorists, and clearance and search operations were underway under Operation Radd-ul-Fitna 3.
Fitna al-Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, while the state has designated Balochistan-based terrorist groups as Fitna al-Hindustan to highlight India’s alleged role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended the security forces for their successful operations against terrorists in KP and Balochistan, according to Radio Pakistan.
In a statement, the president said the operations were “a clear expression of the firm resolve against terrorist elements”.
In a separate statement, the prime minister said operations against Fitna al-Khawarij will continue until the complete elimination of terrorism and the establishment of lasting peace in the country. He said terrorists seeking to undermine the country’s peace and security will not be allowed to succeed in their “nefarious designs”.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti also praised the security forces for killing five terrorists in Mastung. He said security forces were performing their responsibilities with full commitment to eliminate terrorism and restore peace and stability in Balochistan.
CM Bugti said operations against terrorists would be taken to their logical conclusion and would continue until terrorism was completely eliminated from the province.
Terrorism in KP, Balochistan
KP and Balochistan have witnessed terrorist attacks and security challenges for a long time. KP, excluding the merged districts, recorded 54 terrorist attacks in August, compared to 36 in July, representing an increase of 50 per cent, according to data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).
A day earlier, in another North Waziristan IBO, security forces killed five terrorists, state media said. On Oct 2, security forces killed seven terrorists in an IBO in North Waziristan. On Sept 30, security forces killed three terrorists in an IBO in KP’s Mir Ali.
Meanwhile, in Balochistan’s Chagai, security forces killed two terrorists on Sept 29.
The number of terrorist attacks in the province increased by seven per cent from 83 in July to 89 in August, according to PICSS’ monthly assessment. As per the report, Balochistan was declared the province “most affected” by terrorism.
Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2026
