Pakistan Security Forces Kill 17 Terrorists in Balochistan Operations

The Government of Pakistan Security Forces killed seven terrorists affiliated with Fitna-ul-Khawarij during an intelligence-based operation in the Lajay area of the Kharan district in Balochistan on August 16, 2026. Conducted under Operation Radd-ul-Fitna 3, the mission resulted in the destruction of militant hideouts and the seizure of modern weapons, ammunition, military equipment, two vehicles, and a motorcycle.

Security sources stated the slain militants were planning suicide attacks, kidnappings for ransom, target killings, and extortion within Kharan and Lajay. This action followed a similar operation one day prior in the Shor Parod mountainous range of the Khuzdar district, where security forces killed 10 terrorists linked to Fitna Al Hindustan. Security sources characterized both militant groups as Indian-backed.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi stated that intelligence-based operations will persist until the "last terrorist" is eliminated, asserting that the nation remains united in its fight against terrorism. These operations occur amid a broader surge in militant activity across Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces since 2021.