3 terrorists killed during IBO in Balochistan's Panjgur: ISPR

Security forces killed three terrorists during an intelligence-based operation in the Panjgur district of Balochistan, the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement on Sunday.

According to ISPR, the operation was launched following reports of the presence of terrorists linked to Fitna al Hindustan, which the military described as an Indian-backed group.

“Security forces engaged the terrorists after locating their hideout, leading to an exchange of fire in which three terrorists were killed. Those killed were identified as local commander Farooq, also known as Soro, along with Adeel and Waseem,” the statement said.

The military said weapons, ammunition and explosives were recovered from the site, adding that the terrorists had been involved in multiple attacks in the area. Security forces are continuing search and clearance operations in the region to ensure no other terrorists remain, the statement said.

ISPR said counterterrorism operations would continue under the ongoing national security campaign, Azm-e-Istehkam, approved by the Federal Apex Committee as part of the National Action Plan, to eliminate foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country.

President, PM praised security forces for Panjgur operation

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised security forces following a counterterrorism operation in Balochistan’s Panjgur district.

In separate statements, both said the nation stood firmly with the armed forces in efforts to combat terrorism. President Zardari said operations against what he described as Fitna al Hindustan were essential for ensuring national security.

PM Shehbaz said security forces were making significant gains against militancy under the national counterterrorism vision of Azm-e-Istehkam.

Later, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also commended security forces for a successful intelligence-based operation against terrorists linked to Fitna al Hindustan in Balochistan’s Panjgur district.

In a statement, Naqvi said Pakistan’s security forces had eliminated three terrorists during the operation. “The brave security forces have taken three terrorists to their logical end,” Naqvi said.

Read More: Security forces kill 13 TTP terrorists in two K-P IBOs

He paid tribute to the personnel involved in the operation, saying: “We salute the security forces who eliminated the terrorists.”

The interior minister also lauded the role of security forces in maintaining peace in Balochistan. “We appreciate the unmatched role of the security forces in establishing peace in Balochistan,” he said.

Naqvi said terrorists linked to Fitna al Hindustan would find no place to hide. “The terrorists of Fitna al-Hindustan will find no refuge anywhere,” he added.

Last week, security forces killed four Indian-sponsored terrorists during an intelligence-based operation in Kalat District of Balochistan, while 13 terrorists belonging to the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group were eliminated in two separate intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Kurram and Bannu districts.

Terrorism activities and IBOs in 2025

Earlier this month, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry had presented a comprehensive review of terrorist activity during 2025, describing the year as historic and result-oriented in Pakistan's counterterrorism campaign.

In the last year, he said, an extraordinary number of the IBOs were conducted across the country, reflecting both the scale of the threat and the state's resolve to confront it. "In 2025, a complete harmony was achieved between the state of Pakistan and its people on the issue of terrorism."

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Providing statistics, Lt Gen Sharif said that in 2025, law enforcement agencies conducted 75,175 IBOs nationwide - an average of 206 operations every day. Of these, he added, 14,658 operations were carried out in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), 58,778 in Balochistan, and 1,739 in other parts of the country.

Despite these operations, Pakistan witnessed 5,397 terrorist incidents during the year. K-P accounted for the highest number, with 3,811 incidents, followed by Balochistan with 1,557 incidents. Only 29 incidents were reported from the rest of the country. A total of 2,597 terrorists were killed during the year, Lt Gen Sharif said.