QUETTA: Pakistan’s military said on Thursday it killed at least 18 militants linked to an India-backed Fitna al-Hindustan during two counterterrorism operations in Balochistan.
In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said troops conducted intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in the Chiltan mountain range of Quetta district and in Buleda, Kech district.
“During the operation in the Chiltan range, security forces engaged the terrorists’ hideout and, after an intense exchange of fire, killed 14 Indian-sponsored militants,” the ISPR said.
In Buleda, troops raided another hideout and killed four more militants. The military said the terrorists were involved in several attacks and that forces recovered weapons, ammunition, and explosives from the sites.
The army said it has designated certain Balochistan-based groups as Fitna al-Hindustan to underscore India’s alleged role in sponsoring terrorism and destabilising Pakistan.
Security forces are continuing sanitisation operations in the area to eliminate remaining militants, the statement said, adding that the counterterrorism campaign would proceed “at full pace” to eradicate foreign-backed networks.
Pakistan has faced a surge in militant violence in recent months, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where security forces and police have frequently come under attack.
A day earlier, six soldiers, including a captain, were killed and seven militants were shot dead during another intelligence-based operation in the Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to the army.
