Security forces have killed eight “India-sponsored” terrorists during three intelligence-based operations conducted in the Quetta, Nushki and Khuzdar districts of Balochistan, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Sunday.

The IBOs took place on Oct 17 (Saturday) on the “reported presence of terrorists belonging to Indian proxy Fitna al Hindustan”, the military’s media affairs wing said in its press release.

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

In the Panjpai area of Quetta district, terrorists’ attempt to establish a roadblock to disrupt local traffic was “intercepted by security forces, resulting in [the] killing of five India-sponsored terrorists”.

Separately, during a sanitisation operation in Nushki district, security forces busted a terrorist hideout and “after an intense fire exchange, two India-sponsored terrorists were sent to hell”. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered, ISPR added.

In another IBO in Khuzdar, a terrorist hideout was “engaged by security forces through prompt offensive action”, killing one terrorist. ISPR said a large quantity of explosives (490 kilogrammes) was also recovered.

Sanitisation operations were being conducted to eliminate any other terrorist found in the area, according to the statement.

ISPR reaffirmed that the “relentless counterterrorism campaign under Vision ‘Azm-i-Istehkam’ (as approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the 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”.

President Asif Ali Zardari, in a statement, paid tribute to the security forces for eliminating eight terrorists.

He also commended their professional capabilities for thwarting the attempt to disrupt traffic in Quetta, as well as their actions in Nushki and Khuzdar.

“Conspiracies of the terrorists’ foreign patrons and their local facilitators will be foiled,” President Zardari declared.

Intensified operations

Balochistan has witnessed an increase in terrorist activities in recent years, prompting security forces to intensify counterterrorism operations.

On the night of Oct 12/13, security forces busted a terrorist hideout and killed five terrorists during an IBO in Washuk, ISPR said.

Days later, Balochistan government officials said that six terrorists affiliated with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), two would-be female suicide bombers, and two commanders of a banned organisation had been arrested during IBOs across the province.

They said around 90 arrested terrorists were being held at a centre where investigations and legal proceedings were under way.

Earlier this month, five terrorists were eliminated in Balochistan’s Mastung district, state media reported.

The number of terrorist attacks in the province increased by seven per cent from 83 in July to 89 in August, according to data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS). As per the report, Balochistan was declared the province “most affected” by terrorism.