QUETTA: At least eight terrorists were killed by the premature detonation of explosive material during the preparation of a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) in the Surab district of Balochistan, the military’s media wing said on Wednesday.
According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces launched a comprehensive clearance operation following the explosion on Monday morning, tracking down and killing another 10 terrorists affiliated with Fitna Al Hindustan — the term the state uses to describe India-backed terror outfits operating in Balochistan.
The initial explosion of explosive material also resulted in civilian casualties, and ISPR said that at least three civilians lost their lives in a secondary detonation of other explosives stored at the terrorists’ hideout.
“In total, 18 terrorists affiliated with Fitna al-Hindustan have been eliminated in these incidents so far,” the ISPR said, adding that during an exchange of fire, two soldiers were injured.
“Sanitisation operations continue in the area to eliminate any remaining terrorists,” it continued.
ISPR says eight terrorists killed by premature detonation of VBIED; 10 hunted down in subsequent operation
Security forces lauded
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the security forces and Balochistan police for their successful operation against terrorists in Surab and reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to eliminate terrorism from the country, state-run APP reported.
President Zardari lauded the security forces and Balochistan police for the successful action against the terrorists and expressed his best wishes for the early recovery of two personnel who were injured during the operation, a Presidency’s media wing news release said.
He also expressed sorrow over the loss of civilian lives caused by an explosion of explosive material belonging to the terrorists in Surab.
In a separate statement from the Prime Minister’s media wing, PM Shehbaz also praised the officers and personnel of the security forces for the operation in Surab. The premier also expressed his grief over the loss of precious civilian lives in the explosion.
“Fitna al-Hindustan terrorists are enemies of peace and the people of Balochistan,” the prime minister said, describing the loss of civilian lives during preparations for terrorist activities as deeply regrettable.
Demand for judicial inquiry
Meanwhile, representatives of the Balochistan National Party (BNP) and the National Party (NP) expressed concern over the civilian casualties in the Surab attack, and demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident.
BNP Central Senior Vice President Sajid Tareen Advocate announced at a press conference on Wednesday that a province-wide protest would be held on Aug 16 against the tragic incident in which women and children also lost their lives.
He demanded that a fact-finding commission should be established headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court to investigate into the matter and its report should be made public.
In a separate statement, the NP spokesperson said attacks on civilian areas were a grave violation of human rights, and urged the government to adopt political and democratic means to address people’s grievances and avoid measures that could further escalate tensions in the province.
Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2026