6 personnel martyred in Balochistan Customs House attack, 21 terrorists killed across province: ISPR

Six personnel, including two officers, and a customs department official were martyred as security forces thwarted an attempt to breach the Customs House in Balochistan, the military’s media wing said on Tuesday, adding that in total 21 terrorists were killed in two separate operations in the province overnight.

According to a press release from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the incidents took place in Nokcha in Chagai district and Ziarat Cross in Pishin district during the night of August 31 and early hours of September 1.

The ISPR said terrorists affiliated with Fitna al-Khawarij launched a coordinated attack during Monday night in an attempt to breach the Customs House.

"Security Forces responded effectively and, after an intense fire exchange, killed 10 terrorists. Moreover, fleeing terrorists were also engaged by the security forces, inflicting further casualties," it said.

Read: 49 terrorists killed in Balochistan, K-P IBOs

The ISPR described the attack on the Customs House as a manifestation of a “terror-crime nexus”, adding that it was "orchestrated to prevent customs officials from performing their lawful duties and thereby facilitate the continuation of criminal activities in the area".

It said six personnel, including two officers and a Customs Department official, were martyred during the exchange of fire.

In a separate incident, the ISPR said 11 terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Hindustan were killed on August 31 after they attempted to establish an illegal checkpoint along the N-40 Quetta-Taftan Highway to extort money from commuters.

"Security Forces responded immediately and, after an intense fire exchange, killed eleven terrorists on the spot. A large quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosives was also recovered from the terrorists," it added.

The ISPR said sanitisation operations were underway in the surrounding areas to clear any remaining terrorists and ensure the security of local residents and vital national highways, adding that the counterterrorism campaign under the government-approved “Azm-e-Istehkam” framework would continue with full resolve.

“Security forces and law enforcement agencies remain committed to eliminating the menace of foreign-sponsored and foreign-supported terrorism from the country,” the statement said.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif commended the security forces for the operations.

President Zardari appreciated the professionalism and operational capabilities of the security forces in effectively targeting terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Hindustan and Fitna al-Khwarij.

He observed that by laying down their lives in the line of duty, the martyrs set a great example of defending the motherland.

The president and the prime minister also expressed grief over the martyrdom of the six personnel.

The prime minister said they shared the grief of the bereaved families, the PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.

According to the statement, PM Shehbaz said that the sacrifices against terrorism would not go in vain.

The prime minister also reaffirmed that the government was committed to eliminating terrorism of all kinds, completely, from the country.

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 Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

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.

Read More: Six terrorists killed in separate IBOs in Balochistan

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.

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.

Last 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.