Security forces kill seven terrorists in Balochistan's Kharan

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-Khwarij 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.

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

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.