Balochistan operations over the past four days have killed more than 71 terrorists, the military’s media wing announced Sunday, marking one of the heaviest tolls reported from the province this year. The announcement came as security forces wrapped up a multi-district offensive that began on September 21.
What ISPR Announced About the Balochistan Operations
The Inter-Services Public Relations wing said security forces had launched a swift operation in Ziarat and surrounding areas after receiving intelligence on militant hideouts. The action, named Operation Shaban, targeted groups the state labels Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan.
ISPR described the combined toll as a serious setback for what it called India-backed Afghan proxies. Weapons, ammunition, and explosives were recovered from multiple cleared sites, and the statement said clearance work would continue until the threat was fully eradicated.
Breakdown of the 96-Hour Offensive by District
The 71-plus figure did not come from a single clash. It reflects several separate engagements across different districts, each reported individually by ISPR before being tallied into the four-day total announced Sunday.
Here is how the numbers break down by location and phase, based strictly on ISPR’s own statement:
| Location | Phase | Terrorists Killed |
|---|---|---|
| Shaban, Quetta district | Initial phase (from Sept 21) | 33 |
| Shaban and surrounding areas | Intensified phase (following 72 hours) | 23 |
| Nushki district | Separate IBO, Sept 25 | 11 |
| Mand | Separate operation | 6 |
Operation Shaban in Ziarat and Quetta District
Operation Shaban accounted for the bulk of the toll. Security forces engaged militants after intense exchanges of fire, clearing several hideouts in the Shaban area of Quetta district over multiple days.
That single operation produced 56 of the 71 reported deaths across its two phases. ISPR said troops recovered a large quantity of weapons and explosives, and that the cleared area had been relieved of militant presence.
Nushki and Mand Operations
Separately, forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in Nushki district on September 25, killing 11 militants at a targeted hideout. Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the site during the raid.
In Mand, six terrorists identified as Fitna al-Hindustan members were killed in a distinct engagement. Combined, the two districts added 17 deaths to the province-wide 96-hour count reported by ISPR.
Who Are Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan
These are not names the groups use themselves. They are official Pakistani state designations: Fitna al-Khawarij refers to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, while Fitna al-Hindustan refers to the Balochistan Liberation Army and allied militant outfits.
READ MORE: Pakistan security forces kill seven Fitna al-Khawarij in Balochistan
The Interior Ministry directed government institutions to adopt the Fitna al-Hindustan label in mid-2025, tying Baloch insurgent violence explicitly to alleged Indian sponsorship. The terminology has since become standard across ISPR statements, including this latest one.
Government and Military Reaction
President Asif Ali Zardari praised security forces shortly after the ISPR statement, commending the elimination of more than 71 terrorists during Operation Shaban and related actions. His office’s media wing issued a formal statement to that effect.
ISPR reiterated that the counterterrorism campaign, run under the government’s Azm-e-Istehkam framework and approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, would continue with full resolve against what it calls foreign-sponsored terrorism.
A Pattern of Escalating Counterterrorism Claims in Balochistan
This 96-hour toll fits a rising trend. ISPR reported 54 militants killed over four days in mid-August, 32 killed in a 24-hour KP-Balochistan sweep in late July, and smaller tallies through much of the year.
- August: 54 killed in three major incidents over four days
- Late July: 32 killed across KP and Balochistan in 24 hours
- Early September: 11 killed in Kharan and Washuk, alongside 2.9 tonnes of explosives seized
Each round of operations has followed a similar script: intelligence tip, targeted raid, hideout clearance, and a same-day ISPR statement naming Indian-backed proxies as the target.
What Remains Unverified
Every figure in this report traces back to a single source: ISPR’s own statement. No independent monitor, journalist on the ground, or opposing party has confirmed the 71-plus death toll or the composition of those killed.
The claim linking Baloch militancy directly to Indian sponsorship is likewise a state assertion rather than a documented fact. Rights groups and independent analysts have previously questioned casualty figures from remote conflict zones where access remains tightly restricted.
