Major, four soldiers martyred during Operation Barkhan in Balochitan: ISPR

Major Tauseef Ahmed Bhatti and four other soldiers were killed during an area clearance operation in Balochistan’s Barkhan district on Wednesday, army media said.

“On the morning of May 13, 2026, troops of Pakistan Army and Balochistan Frontier Corps launched a disinfection operation of the general area of ​​Nosham in Barkhan district to eliminate terrorists from India-backed countries. Fitna Al Hindustan“, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

He said troops located and fought a group of terrorists. “During an exchange of fire, seven Indian terrorists supported Fitna Al Hindustan were sent to hell,” the ISPR added, further clarifying that arms, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from them.

Read: 22 terrorists killed during intelligence operation in KP, says army

‘Fitna al-Hindustan” is a term used by the state to refer to all terrorist groups operating in Balochistan.

The ISPR said Major Bhatti, 31, a resident of Pakpattan district, was martyred, along with Naik Fida Hussain, 36, of Sukkur; Sepoy Zakir Hussain, 32, from Skardu; Sepoy Suhail Ahmed, 21, from Khanewal, and Sepoy Muhammad Ayaz, 24, from Rahim Yar Khan.

Army media said the disinfection operation in the surrounding areas was continuing to eliminate all other “Indian-sponsored terrorists” present.

“The relentless anti-terrorism campaign carried out under the ‘Azm e Istehkam’ vision (as approved by the Supreme Federal Committee on National Action Plan) by the security and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan will continue in full swing to eliminate the menace of foreign sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” the statement concluded.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the officers and personnel of security forces for carrying out an operation against terrorists in Nosham area of ​​Barkhan district of Balochistan.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, while paying tribute to Major Bhatti and other soldiers martyred during the operation, the Prime Minister also prayed for the upliftment of their ranks and expressed condolences to their families.

“These great sons of the earth have given a remarkable example of loyalty by defending the country against terrorists,” the Prime Minister said.

“The Pakistani nation will never forget the immense sacrifices of its martyrs,” he added.

Prime Minister Shehbaz said the officers and personnel of the security forces remained committed day and night in protecting the country.

“In their unwavering resolve to defend the homeland, the entire nation, including me, stands with our courageous security forces,” he said.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also paid tribute to Major Bhatti and the four soldiers who were martyred during the operation.

In a statement, the Minister of the Interior expressed his sympathy and condolences to the families of the martyrs.

Naqvi said Major Bhatti and the soldiers fought bravely and sent seven terrorists “to hell”.

He said the security personnel foiled the nefarious designs of “Indian-sponsored terrorists” with their sacrifice and courage.

“I salute the sacrifice of Major Tauseef Ahmed Bhatti and other martyrs,” the minister said, adding that every drop of blood of the martyrs was a guarantee for the protection of the country.

“Every martyr, including Major Tauseef Ahmed, is the crown of our heads,” he said.

The Interior Minister said that the martyrs sacrificed their precious lives for the motherland and achieved the high status of martyr. “Major Tauseef Ahmed and other martyrs will always remain alive in our hearts,” he added.

Terrorism is a growing problem in Pakistan, with the number of attacks increasing every year since 2022, according to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), a global monitoring organization. ACLED data shows that attacks in Pakistan have increased almost fourfold, from 658 in 2022 to 2,425 in 2025, and over the same period, TTP attacks increased sevenfold, from 118 to 838.

Although Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has borne the brunt of terrorism, Balochistan has also remained a major target of Indian proxies, who often target civilians and military installations in the province.

In one such attack on the last day of last year, terrorists targeted innocent civilians in Gwadar and Kharan districts of Balochistan, where 18 people, including women, children, elderly people and laborers, embraced martyrdom.

The security forces and law enforcers responded immediately and successfully thwarted the “evil designs” of the terrorists, killing 92 militants, while 15 security personnel also embraced martyrdom during the operation.