Balochistan Operation Shaban Toll Rises as Four More Militants Killed
Security forces killed four more militants during the continuing Operation Shaban in Balochistan on Tuesday, according to state media, raising the reported toll from the ongoing campaign to 83. The update marks the latest development in a large-scale security response launched after a deadly assault on police personnel near the Mangi Dam pumping station in Ziarat.
State-owned Pakistan Television, citing security sources, said the latest deaths occurred during combined air and ground actions being carried out in the province. The operation involves the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps, police and the Anti-Terrorism Force, reflecting the scale of the security mobilisation after the recent wave of violence in Balochistan.
Operation Shaban was launched after armed attackers targeted a police post at the Mangi Dam pumping station. Officials have said the assault resulted in the killing of 27 police personnel, including officers who were abducted and later found dead, prompting a coordinated campaign across difficult mountainous areas and suspected militant hideouts.
In its latest update, PTV said security sources reported that four more militants had been killed in the ongoing operation. The broadcaster also stated that, since July 5, a larger number of militants had been eliminated in Operation Shaban and other intelligence-based operations, and that the campaign would continue until remaining armed elements were neutralised.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the security forces a day earlier, saying the results of Operation Shaban and related intelligence operations showed their preparedness, professionalism and operational readiness. His statement framed the operation as part of a broader national effort to restore security and prevent militant groups from expanding their activities in Balochistan.
The government has also used strong official terminology to describe groups it says are involved in attacks inside Pakistan, including militant networks allegedly backed from outside the country. Officials have repeatedly linked violence in Balochistan to hostile elements and have presented the ongoing operation as a response to what they describe as organised attempts to destabilise the province.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last week said the civil and military leadership had reached a unified decision to eliminate terrorism following multiple major incidents in Balochistan. That statement came as authorities faced mounting pressure to respond decisively to attacks on security forces, police posts and infrastructure in the province.
Balochistan remains central to Pakistan’s internal security concerns because of its vast geography, difficult terrain, mineral resources and strategic routes. Repeated attacks on security personnel, development projects and transport corridors have raised concerns about the impact of militancy on public safety, economic confidence and the state’s ability to maintain order in remote areas.
The latest figures from Operation Shaban indicate that security forces are likely to continue their sweep in the coming days. The next phase is expected to focus on clearing hideouts, tracking facilitators, securing vulnerable police and paramilitary positions, and preventing further attacks against civilians and law-enforcement personnel in Balochistan.