PM Shehbaz Vows Unified Action After Balochistan Terror Attacks
QUETTA: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership had reached a unified decision to intensify the fight against terrorism, following a deadly wave of attacks in Balochistan that has shaken the province’s security landscape.
The prime minister made the statement while chairing a Provincial Apex Committee meeting on the National Action Plan in Quetta. Chief of Defence Forces and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir also attended the session, along with senior federal, provincial, civil and security officials.
The meeting came after a series of attacks and security operations in Balochistan since July 5. Officials said the violence had caused heavy losses among police, security personnel and civilians, while security forces had also killed dozens of militants during retaliatory and follow-up operations.
Addressing the meeting, PM Shehbaz said the state had resolved not to step back in the campaign against militant networks. He said the civil and military leadership, together with the Balochistan government, would use all available resources to eliminate terrorism and restore stability.
The prime minister also repeated Pakistan’s allegation that hostile foreign involvement was fuelling unrest, saying India was supporting militant activity through money and weapons. He further claimed that terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan were involved in attacks in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Officials used the term Fitna Al Khawarij for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and affiliated groups, a label increasingly used by the government and military to frame the threat as both militant and ideological. PM Shehbaz said these groups aimed to undermine Pakistan’s diplomatic gains, national confidence and security achievements.
The security review was held against the backdrop of three major incidents cited by military officials: an armed attack near Quetta, an assault on a police post in Ziarat and an ambush targeting an army convoy in Bela. These incidents have renewed national debate over the scale of militancy in Balochistan and the adequacy of existing counterterrorism measures.
Balochistan has faced repeated cycles of violence involving separatist, sectarian and militant networks, while the province’s vast terrain and border proximity have complicated policing and intelligence-led operations. The latest attacks have placed renewed pressure on both federal and provincial authorities to improve coordination, protect vulnerable communities and strengthen law enforcement capacity.
For Pakistan, the escalation carries consequences beyond immediate security. Continued violence in Balochistan can affect public confidence, development projects, investment flows, transport links and the state’s ability to project stability at a time when economic recovery remains fragile.
The next phase will depend on how quickly the decisions taken at the Quetta meeting translate into field-level operations, intelligence coordination and political outreach. Authorities are expected to continue security action while facing public demands for protection, accountability and a durable strategy to prevent further attacks.