Operation Shaaban Intensifies as 75 Militants Killed in Balochistan
Security forces have killed 75 militants in Balochistan since July 5 as Operation Shaaban and related intelligence-based actions continue across the province, according to security sources cited in reports published on Saturday. The operation was launched after the attack on the Mangi Dam Police Station and has since expanded into difficult mountainous areas where militants were believed to have taken positions.
The coordinated campaign is being carried out by the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps and Balochistan Police, with security units tightening their cordon around fighters described by authorities as belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij. Officials say the operation has entered a more aggressive phase as ground and aerial surveillance efforts remain focused on blocking escape routes and preventing regrouping.
According to the latest operational details, 26 militants had already been killed during actions conducted on July 6 and 7. Security sources said 13 more militants were eliminated over the past 24 hours through combined ground and air activity, raising the number killed under Operation Shaaban alone to 39.
Officials also reported a separate clash in Khuzdar, where security forces repulsed an attack on a police station in the Zaidi area early Friday. Troops from the Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps responded quickly and killed eight attackers during the engagement, while reports from the area suggested another five to six militants were killed in follow-up helicopter operations.
Security sources described the operation as a continuing counterterrorism drive aimed at dismantling militant networks that have stepped up attacks in Balochistan in recent days. The response follows a series of deadly incidents targeting police, security forces and civilians, intensifying concern over the security situation in the province.
The federal and provincial leadership has publicly backed the ongoing operation, with senior officials praising the role of the army, FC and Balochistan Police. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reiterated that the campaign against terrorism will continue until militant networks are eliminated, while President Asif Ali Zardari has paid tribute to the forces involved in the crackdown.
Balochistan has long faced a complex security challenge involving separatist violence, banned militant outfits, cross-border movement and attacks on state infrastructure. The latest violence has again placed the province at the centre of Pakistan’s internal security agenda, particularly because police installations and remote security posts have become repeated targets.
The impact of the latest operation extends beyond the battlefield. Sustained insecurity in Balochistan affects public confidence, policing capacity, transport routes, investment prospects and development projects in a province already struggling with governance and economic pressures. A prolonged wave of violence can also increase pressure on local communities caught between militant activity and intensified security measures.
Authorities are expected to keep operations active in mountainous zones while intelligence teams track remaining militant cells and facilitators. The next phase will likely focus on preventing retaliatory attacks, securing vulnerable police stations and maintaining coordination among military, paramilitary and civilian law enforcement agencies across Balochistan.