23 abductees rescued, 5 terrorists killed as security forces thwart attempt to set up check post near Kalat

Security forces foiled an attempt by terrorists to establish a check post for abducting people and snatching vehicles along the Pakistan Highway near Kalat, rescuing 23 abductees and killing five terrorists, the military’s media wing said on Sunday.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operation was conducted during the night of Sept 18-19, when terrorists belonging to Fitna al Hindustan attempted to disrupt the movement of people along the Chaman-Karachi N-25 highway near Kalat.

The terrorists were allegedly trying to establish a check post for abductions for ransom, extortion and vehicle snatching, the statement said.

Read: Security forces kill seven terrorists in two Balochistan operations: state media

“Security Forces responded immediately, and after intense fire exchange, five terrorists belonging to Indian-sponsored proxy of Fitna al-Hindustan were sent to hell due to effective response by Armed Forces,” the ISPR said.

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 the outfits.

Security forces also recovered 23 abductees from the terrorists’ hideout, along with six trucks, three buses and two cars.

A large quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosives was also recovered from the hideout, according to the statement.

The ISPR said the successful operation had thwarted the “nefarious designs” of the Indian-sponsored proxy of Fitna al-Hindustan.

“Sanitisation operations are continuing in the surrounding areas to eliminate any remaining terrorists and ensure the safety and security of the local population and the vital National Highways,” it said.

The military’s media wing said the counter-terrorism campaign under the vision of “Azm-e-Istehkam”, approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, would continue “with full resolve”.

Read More: Security forces kill three terrorists during IBO in Balochistan's Awaran: state media

“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.

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.

Although Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) 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.

On August 21, security forces, in coordination with police, killed 49 terrorists in a series of IBOs across K-P and Balochistan over several days.

Earlier this week, security forces killed seven terrorists in Balochistan; six more were killed near Kalat.

A few days ago, security forces killed three terrorists during an IBO in the Badrang area of Awaran district, according to security sources. The operation was conducted under Operation Radd-ul-Fitna 3 against terrorists affiliated with Fitna al-Hindustan, with weapons and ammunition recovered from those killed.