Security forces kill seven terrorists in Balochistan's Kharan

Terrorists involved in looting, extortion, kidnapping, targeted killings, planning suicide attacks in Kharan, Lajay

Seven terrorists were killed and several others wounded during an intelligence-based operation by security forces in Kharan district of Balochistan, Radio Pakistan reported on Sunday, citing security sources.

"Security forces have killed seven terrorists belonging to Fitna-al-Khawarij in an intelligence-based operation in Kharan district of Balochistan," Radio Pakistan quoted security sources as saying.

According to security sources, the operation was carried out in the Lajay area of Kharan under Operation Radd-ul-Fitna-3 following intelligence reports about the presence of terrorists.

The terrorists were affiliated with Fitna al-Khawarij, according to security sources.

The federal government last year officially designated all terrorist groups operating in Balochistan as 'Fitna al-Hindustan', accusing India of sponsoring a proxy war through these outfits. Fitna al-Khawarij is the state-designated term for the banned outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The high-tempo intelligence-driven operations were conducted as part of the ongoing "Radd-ul-Fitna-3" campaign, which the military's media wing has described as a counterterrorism operation aimed at eliminating Indian proxies.

"Modern weapons, a large quantity of ammunition, other military equipment, two vehicles and a motorcycle were recovered from the terrorists' hideouts," the sources added.

It further revealed that the hideouts were also destroyed during the operation.

The terrorists had been involved in planning looting, extortion, kidnapping for ransom, targeted killings and planning suicide attacks in Kharan and Lajay, the sources said.

"Security forces continued operations in Balochistan under Operation Radd-ul-Fitna-3 as part of efforts to eliminate terrorism," the sources added.

In a statement, President Asif Ali Zardari lauded the security forces for a successful intelligence-based operation. He said the dismantling of the hideouts of the Fitna al-Khawarij terrorists and the recovery of a large quantity of arms and ammunition is a significant achievement.

صدرِ مملکت آصف علی زرداری کا بلوچستان کے ضلع خاران میں سیکیورٹی فورسز کے کامیاب انٹیلی جنس بیسڈ آپریشن پر خراجِ تحسین۔

فتنہ الخوارج کے دہشت گردوں کے ٹھکانوں کی تباہی اور بھاری مقدار میں اسلحہ و گولہ بارود کی برآمدگی اہم کامیابی ہے: صدرِ مملکت

بیرونی سرپرستی میں سرگرم دہشت گرد…

— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) August 16, 2026

The President said operations against terrorist elements operating under external patronage are indispensable for the protection of national security.

President Zardari reiterated that the entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the security forces of Pakistan in the war against terrorism.

Read: Five terrorists, including key commander, killed in IBO in Balochistan's Panjgur: security sources

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also praised the security forces and their professionalism and said the personnel fighting terrorism were a source of pride for the nation.

وفاقی وزیرداخلہ محسن نقوی کی خاران میں فتنہ الہندوستان کے دہشتگردوں کے خلاف کامیاب انٹیلی جنس بیسڈ آپریشن پر سکیورٹی فورسز کی ستائش
آپریشن ردالفتنہ 3 کے تحت سکیورٹی فورسز نے بروقت کارروائی کرکے 7 دہشتگردوں کو جہنم واصل کیا۔
سکیورٹی فورسز کی پیشہ وارانہ صلاحیتوں کو سراہا

— Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) August 16, 2026

“Security forces have achieved notable successes in maintaining peace in Balochistan, which are commendable,” he said.

Naqvi said the nation remained united in the fight against terrorism. “Intelligence-based operations will continue until the last terrorist is eliminated,” he said.

In an operation on Monday, security forces killed five terrorists, including a key commander identified as Wazir, son of Jamal, in Balochistan’s Panjgur district, according to security sources. The operation was carried out in the Sarkeni and Chidgi areas under Operation Radd-ul-Fitna-3.

On August 9, security forces killed 15 terrorists in intelligence-based operations across Mastung, Bolan, Washuk, Awaran, Sibi, Khuzdar, Harnai and Noshki under Operation Radd-ul-Fitna-3. A large quantity of weapons and ammunition was also recovered, while the operations significantly disrupted the terrorists’ network and restricted their movement across Balochistan, the sources said.

Also on August 6, security forces killed 12 terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Hindustan during IBOs in the Washuk and Mastung districts of Balochistan, the military's media wing reported.

Terrorism is a growing problem for Pakistan, with the number of attacks rising every year since 2022, according to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), a global monitoring organisation. Data from ACLED shows attacks in Pakistan rose nearly fourfold to 2,425 in 2025 from 658 in 2022, and over the same period, TTP attacks increased more than sevenfold to 838 from 118.

Although Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has borne the brunt of terrorism, Balochistan has also remained a major target of Indian proxies, which often target civilians and military installations in the province.

In one such attack on the last day of 2025, terrorists targeted innocent civilians in Balochistan’s Gwadar and Kharan districts, where 18 people, including women, children, the elderly and labourers, embraced martyrdom.

Read More:10 terrorists killed in IBO in Balochistan's Khuzdar: state media

The forces continued operations across the provinces against what the state describes as Indian-sponsored terrorists and their proxies, but despite these efforts, the groups have continued to target civilian and defence installations.

Read More: 12 terrorists killed as forces fight off multiple attacks in Balochistan's Kharan

Earlier this month, at least 30 people, including 27 police personnel, were martyred when terrorists identified by the state as the Indian proxy Fitna al-Hindustan ambushed police personnel deployed in the Kach Mangi Phase III area of Ziarat, triggering hours-long gun battles. The attackers also abducted several civilians and police personnel after the assault.

In the aftermath of the attack, the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps and Balochistan Police launched a joint operation, which remains underway, with forces intensifying action against terrorists across the province.