6 terrorists killed, several arrested in Balochistan's Mastung: state media

Six terrorists were killed and several others arrested, including male and female suicide bombers, on Thursday during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) carried out by security forces in the Khad Kocha area of Balochistan’s Mastung district, according to state media.

The intelligence-based operations are part of the recently launched Operation Shaban, a joint operation by the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps (FC), and Balochistan Police, launched in the aftermath of the terrorist attack on Mangi Dam Police Station and remain underway.

State-run Pakistan Television (PTV) reported, citing the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), that the terrorists belonged to the Indian proxy group Fitna al-Hindustan, while those detained included alleged facilitators as well as male and female suicide bombers.

"Multiple terrorist hideouts were destroyed, while a large cache of weapons and ammunition was recovered," it added.

The ISPR said security forces had intensified operations in Balochistan, further tightening the noose around terrorist networks in the province.

Fitna al-Hindustan is the term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Balochistan Liberation Army and other groups in the province.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi lauded the" bravery and professional capabilities" of the security forces, saying they had foiled the terrorists’ nefarious plans.

He said the achievements of security forces in maintaining peace in Balochistan were commendable.

"The nation stands shoulder to shoulder with security forces for the complete elimination of the menace of Fitna al-Hindustan," he added.

Earlier in the day, a district and sessions judge and his security guard were killed after unidentified armed men opened fire on their vehicle on the national highway in Mastung, while an additional sessions judge and another person sustained serious injuries.

Following the attack, security forces and law enforcement agencies cordoned off the area, launched a search operation and established checkpoints at various locations to apprehend the attackers

A day earlier, security forces killed 10 terrorists and apprehended two female suicide bombers and a facilitator during multiple intelligence-based operations in Balochistan.

UNSC confirms rise in TTP attacks from Afghanistan

Terrorism has significantly increased in Pakistan, particularly in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, in recent days. The rise in terrorist activity has led to growing concerns over the security situation in these regions. In response, security forces have been conducting intensive operations to counter the threat, targeting terrorist groups.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC), in a report released in February, also drew attention to a series of attacks by the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) against Pakistani security forces and projects linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Read More: Three more terrorists killed in ongoing Operation Shaban: security sources

"On September 16, 2025, the BLA ambushed a Pakistani military convoy patrolling the corridor, killing 32 troops. While counter-terrorism operations by Pakistan restricted the BLA's operational space, it remained active".

The report added that some member states reported that the BLA collaborated with the TTP and ISIL-K through shared training camps and resources, coordinating attacks and meetings between commanders. Some member states assessed that there was neither an association nor growing ties between the BLA and Al Qaeda or ISIL.

It further highlighted that various groups in Afghanistan had acquired modern weapons and equipment through cross-border smuggling and black-market trade. "TTP used advanced assault rifles, night-vision devices, thermal-imaging devices, sniper systems and drone attack systems. Most of these were provided by the de facto authorities in conjunction with weapons permits and travel documents," it said.

In August 2025, the UN's 1988 Taliban sanctions committee monitoring team's annual report said outlawed terrorist groups - BLA, including its Majeed Brigade, and TTP had "close coordination".

The UNSC report said "some BLA attacks showed a high degree of complexity and brutality", citing the hijacking of the Jaffar Express in Balochistan on March 11, 2025, which killed 31 people, including 21 hostages.