Pakistan’s army announced on Thursday that more than 200 suspected militants were killed during a six-day military operation across southwestern Balochistan province, restoring calm following last week’s deadly attacks. The operations came after militants targeted 12 locations across the province on Saturday, which the Balochistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility for.
According to the military’s media wing, a total of 216 militants were killed during the operation, while 68 others, including 22 law enforcement personnel, also died in clashes. The army described the operation, named Radd-ul-Fitna-1, as a series of coordinated, intelligence-driven actions against “Indian-sponsored terrorist elements” targeting civilians, including women and children. Authorities said they recovered a substantial cache of foreign-origin weapons, ammunition, explosives, and equipment, and preliminary analysis suggested systematic external facilitation of the attacks.
The armed forces pledged to continue combating terrorism in all its forms, vowing to pursue counterterrorism operations until the complete elimination of terrorist threats. Internet and mobile services, as well as train traffic, have been restored across the province after temporary suspensions. Balochistan, a mineral-rich region and a key route for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, has long faced militancy, with separatist groups seeking what they call the “liberation” of the province.
