Four more terrorists killed in ongoing Shaban operation, security sources say

Four more terrorists were killed on Tuesday during the ongoing Operation Shaban, taking the total number of terrorists killed in the operation to 83 across Balochistan since July 5, security sources said.

The joint operation of Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps (FC) and Balochistan Police was launched following the terrorist attack on Mangi Dam police station and is continuing with the forces intensifying their actions against terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij across the province.

Fitna al-Khawarij ” is the term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Last Tuesday, terrorists ambushed police personnel deployed in the Kach Mangi Phase III area of ​​Ziarat, triggering an exchange of fire lasting several hours which left nine police officers dead, including two police officers. The attackers also kidnapped several civilians and police officers after the assault. The army then launched a series of counter-terrorism operations across Balochistan.

According to security sources, the forces targeted the terrorists through air and ground operations, with effective actions inflicting heavy losses on the terrorist groups.

“Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps Balochistan and police continue their joint Operation Shaban in Balochistan with security forces carrying out effective operations against Fitna al-Khawarij in the region,” a security source said.

Security sources said that since July 5, a total of 121 Kharjis have been killed in Operation Shaban and other Intelligence-Based Operations (IBO).

“Operation Shaban will continue in Balochistan until the last terrorist is eliminated,” security sources said.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi congratulated security forces for further successes achieved during the ongoing Operation Shaban in Balochistan and said the extraordinary successes of the joint operation of Pakistan Army, FC Balochistan and police were commendable.

Naqvi said: “The nation appreciated the effective operations of the security forces against the terrorists of Fitna Al-Hindustan.

“The security forces thwarted the impure intentions of the terrorists of Fitna Al-Hindustan. Thanks to the timely operations of security forces, four more terrorists were sent to hell,” he added.

“Joint force operations will continue until the terrorists are eliminated. The entire nation stands with its brave soldiers engaged in the fight against the scourge of terrorism,” Naqvi added.

UN Security Council confirms increase in TTP attacks from Afghanistan

Terrorism has increased significantly in Pakistan, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, in recent days. The rise in terrorist activities has led to growing concerns about the security situation in these regions. In response, security forces have carried out intensive operations to counter the threat, targeting terrorist groups.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC), in a report released in February, also drew attention to a series of attacks by the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) against Pakistani security forces and projects linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

“On September 16, 2025, the BLA ambushed a Pakistani military convoy patrolling the corridor, killing 32 soldiers. Even though Pakistan-led counterterrorism operations limited the BLA’s operational space, it remained active.”

The report adds that some member states reported that the BLA collaborated with the TTP and ISIL-K through training camps and shared resources, coordinating attacks and meetings between commanders. Some Member States considered that there was no association or growing links between the BLA and Al-Qaeda or ISIL.

Read: Four more terrorists killed during Operation Shabaan (security sources)

He further pointed out that various groups in Afghanistan had acquired modern weapons and equipment through cross-border smuggling and the black market. “The TTP used advanced assault rifles, night vision devices, thermal imaging devices, sniper systems and drone attack systems. Most of these were provided by the de facto authorities in conjunction with weapons permits and travel documents,” it said.

In August 2025, the UN Taliban Sanctions Committee’s annual monitoring team report of 1988 stated that the banned terrorist groups – BLA, including its Majeed Brigade, and TTP had “close coordination”.

The UNSC report said “some BLA attacks showed a high degree of complexity and brutality,” citing the hijacking of the Jaffar Express in Balochistan on March 11, 2025, which killed 31 people, including 21 hostages.