Security forces have significantly tightened the net around terrorists belonging to 'Fitna al-Khawarij' as 'Operation Shaaban' entered a decisive phase in the rugged mountainous areas of Balochistan on Friday, with ground and aerial operations continuing against terrorist positions.
Operation Shaaban and Coordinated Response
Under the operation, jointly conducted by the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps (FC) and Balochistan Police, along with other counterterrorism campaigns, 75 terrorists have been killed since July 5, when a terrorist attack on the Mangi Dam Police Station in Ziarat triggered a coordinated response by the security forces. The security forces have since expanded the operation into difficult mountainous terrain.
Officials said 39 terrorists have been killed under 'Operation Shaaban' alone. During the past 24 hours, another 13 terrorists were killed as troops tightened the cordon around their positions in remote mountain areas. The latest casualties added to the 26 terrorists who had already been killed by security forces during operations conducted on July 6 and 7.
Intelligence-Based Operations and Official Confirmation
The operation has also been accompanied by separate intelligence-based operations carried out across Balochistan since July 5. Officials have said that these operations, together with 'Operation Shaaban', have resulted in the killing of 75 terrorists so far, reflecting an intensified campaign against terrorist networks operating in the province.
"The joint ground and aerial operations have resulted in the killing of 39 terrorists under the operation, while a total of 75 terrorists had been eliminated since July 5 in 'Operation Shaaban' and other intelligence-based operations," Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti confirmed in a post on X.
Attack Repelled in Khuzdar
In another major development, security forces repelled a fresh terrorist attack on a police station in the Zehri area of Khuzdar. Rapid action by Pakistan Army and the FC led to the confirmed killing of eight terrorists during the assault, preventing the attackers from achieving their objective. Sources further said helicopter operations in the area reportedly eliminated another five to six terrorists attempting to escape. They added that ground and aerial operations remain active across several mountainous regions of Balochistan as security forces continue to pursue fleeing terrorists.
Broader Counterterrorism Drive
According to official accounts, the latest operations follow a series of coordinated terrorist attacks carried out over the past week in different parts of Balochistan. The ongoing campaign aims to dismantle terrorist infrastructure and deny militants the ability to regroup following the recent wave of attacks in the province.
Earlier this week, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said those attacks resulted in the martyrdom of 42 civilians and security personnel. The attacks prompted security forces to launch extensive ground and aerial operations targeting those responsible and their facilitators.
Leadership Praises Security Forces
The federal leadership, including President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday hailed the operation as a major success and praised the performance of the security forces participating in the campaign. President Zardari paid tribute to the Army, FC and the Balochistan Police for the successful execution of 'Operation Shaaban'. Commending the professionalism of the forces, the president said the operation had once again demonstrated their capability to confront every threat facing the country.
According to a statement issued by the Presidency, President Zardari said inimical elements using proxy groups against Pakistan would not succeed in their designs because the country's national resolve remained stronger than any conspiracy. He said anti-Pakistan elements and hostile institutions from India and certain other countries were attempting to tarnish Pakistan's recent diplomatic achievements by employing anti-state elements as proxy attackers and trying to demoralise the nation. He pledged that Pakistan would carry forward its recent achievements and defeat terrorism with the support of the people. The president also reaffirmed that there would be no compromise on the defence of the homeland and that the state would eliminate the scourge of terrorism at all costs.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also praised the security forces, saying the elimination of 75 terrorists during the ongoing campaign reflected the high level of professionalism displayed by the Pakistan Army, FC and other participating forces. In a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office, Shehbaz reiterated that the resolve of both the security forces and the nation would remain unwavering until 'Fitna al-Khawarij' – a term used for the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) – was completely eliminated and terrorism rooted out from the country. He said the strategy adopted by the forces while conducting the operations in Balochistan's difficult mountainous terrain deserved appreciation. He also commended the Pakistan Army and FC troops for successfully repelling the terrorist attack on the police station in Khuzdar.
"We'll uproot terrorism from the country once and for all," the prime minister said, adding that every conspiracy aimed at undermining peace and stability in Balochistan would be defeated because the entire nation stood shoulder to shoulder with its armed forces and police.
Ongoing Operations and Military Commitment
The ongoing campaign forms part of Pakistan's broader counterterrorism drive, under which authorities have intensified intelligence-based operations and strengthened security measures to dismantle terrorist networks and their logistical infrastructure. Speaking at the National Defence University in Islamabad earlier this week, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir said terrorism originating from across Pakistan's borders would be crushed with the full might of the state.
Security officials said operations are continuing across multiple mountainous areas of the province, with forces maintaining pressure on fleeing militants and further tightening the cordon as 'Operation Shaaban' enters its latest phase.
