12 terrorists killed in Balochistan's Kalat IBO: ISPR

Security forces killed 12 terrorists belonging to the Indian proxy, Fitna al-Hindustan, in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Balochistan’s Kalat district, the military’s media wing said on Friday.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operation was conducted on September 2 following reports of the presence of terrorists in the area.

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.

“During the conduct of operation, terrorists hideout was identified, monitored and busted through prompt surgical action by own forces,” ISPR said. It said the action had killed “all twelve Indian sponsored terrorists”.

“Cache of ammunition and improvised explosive devices were also destroyed on-site,” the ISPR said. Sanitisation operations were under way in the area to search for and eliminate "any other Indian sponsored terrorist."

"The relentless counter-terrorism campaign under the vision of Azm-e-Istehkam (as approved by the Federal Apex Committee under the National Action Plan) by the security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country," the statement concluded.

Separately, Security forces foiled a terrorist attack in Bhag, Kachhi district, Radio Pakistan reported on Friday.

During the effective action by security forces, multiple terrorists were killed. A clearance operation by security forces is under way in the area to eliminate any remaining terrorists.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the security forces for eliminating 12 terrorists backed by Indian proxy Fitna al-Hindustan during an intelligence-based operation in Kalat.

In separate statements, the president and the prime minister expressed their resolve to completely eradicate the menace of terrorism from the country. They said the entire nation stood firmly with the armed forces in their unwavering resolve to safeguard the country.

“The continuous operations by law enforcement agencies and security forces are aimed at completely eliminating terrorism being patronized by external elements,” the president said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said officers and personnel of the security forces were conducting effective operations against terrorists attempting to undermine peace in the country. He said the government will never allow terrorists to succeed in their nefarious designs to disrupt peace in Balochistan.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the security Forces for a successful operation against terrorists of Fitna al-Hindustan in Kalat. Security forces, through timely and effective action, sent 12 terrorists to hell. I pay tribute to the brave sons of the security forces, he wrote on X.

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: Security forces kill 12 terrorists in Balochistan IBOs: ISPR

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.