Security Forces Eliminate Three More Terrorists in Balochistan
Security forces killed three more terrorists during the latest phase of Operation Shabaan, bringing the total number of terrorists neutralized in the operation and other intelligence-based operations (IBOs) across Balochistan since July 5 to 105, security sources confirmed on Sunday.
The joint operation, involving the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps (FC), and Balochistan Police, was launched after a terrorist attack on the Mangi Dam Police Station. The operation remains active, with forces intensifying counterterrorism efforts across the province.
Details of the Attack and Response
On Tuesday, terrorists ambushed police personnel in the Kach Mangi Phase III area of Ziarat, triggering hours-long gun battles that resulted in the deaths of nine police officers, including two station house officers. Terrorists also abducted several civilians and police personnel following the attack.
In response, the military launched a series of counterterrorism operations across Balochistan. According to a statement from security sources, the three terrorists killed on Sunday died during ongoing air and ground operations by the Armed Forces, Balochistan FC, and police.
Operation Shabaan Progress
Security sources reported that the number of terrorists killed in Operation Shabaan alone has now reached 67. They added that operations against Fitna al-Khawarij, the state's term for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), are continuing in the area. Operation Shabaan will continue across Balochistan until "the last terrorist" has been eliminated, sources stated.
A day earlier, security forces killed 17 Indian-backed terrorists in Balochistan. On Saturday, an attack on a police station in the Zehri area of Khuzdar was repulsed. According to sources, security forces had already killed 26 terrorists during operations conducted on July 6 and 7.
Government Support and Regional Concerns
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari praised the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps, and Balochistan Police for the success of Operation Shabaan and paid tribute to the law enforcement agencies.
Terrorism has significantly increased in Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, in recent days. The rise in terrorist activity has led to growing concerns over the security situation in these regions. In response, security forces have been conducting intensive operations to counter the threat, targeting terrorist groups.
UNSC Report on Terrorist Groups
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC), in its report released in February, 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). The report noted, "On September 16, 2025, the BLA ambushed a Pakistani military convoy patrolling the corridor, killing 32 troops. While counter-terrorism operations by Pakistan restricted the BLA's operational space, it remained active."
The UNSC report added that some member states reported that the BLA collaborated with TTP and ISIL-K through shared training camps and resources, coordinating attacks and meetings between commanders. However, some member states assessed that there was neither an association nor growing ties between the BLA and Al Qaeda or ISIL.
Weapons and Collaboration
The UNSC report further highlighted that various groups in Afghanistan had acquired modern weapons and equipment through cross-border smuggling and black-market trade. "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's 1988 Taliban sanctions committee monitoring team's annual report said outlawed 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.
