18 Terrorists Killed In KP, Balochistan Operations

Security forces killed 18 terrorists in separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, according to state media reports citing security sources. The latest operations took place as authorities continued counterterrorism actions under the Azm-e-Istehkam framework and related security campaigns.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the main action was reported in North Waziristan, where security forces carried out an intelligence-based operation. Thirteen terrorists were killed during the operation, with officials linking the action to continuing efforts against militant networks operating in the region.

A separate engagement was reported in Balochistan’s Mastung district, where five terrorists were killed. The operation was described as part of ongoing action under Operation Radd-ul-Fitna 3, with clearance and search activities continuing after the exchange.

Security sources said heavy weapons and ammunition were recovered from the killed terrorists. The recovery indicates that the groups targeted in the operations had access to significant arms and were considered an active threat to security forces and civilians in the affected areas.

The state uses the term Fitna al-Khawarij for militants linked to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, while Balochistan-based militant groups are officially referred to as Fitna-al-Hindustan to highlight the state’s position on external sponsorship of violence. These designations have increasingly appeared in official counterterrorism messaging.

The latest operations come amid a wider deterioration in the security environment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Both provinces have faced repeated attacks on security personnel, police, civilians and government-linked targets, keeping counterterrorism high on the national agenda.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has seen a rise in attacks in recent months, particularly in areas bordering Afghanistan and former tribal districts. North Waziristan has remained a recurring focus of intelligence-based operations because of militant movement, hideouts and cross-border security concerns.

Balochistan has also remained under pressure from insurgent and militant violence, with multiple districts reporting attacks, security operations and recovery of weapons. Mastung has been one of the areas where security forces have conducted repeated actions against militant networks.

The immediate next step is expected to be continued clearance operations in the affected areas to ensure no remaining militants, weapons caches or explosive material are left behind. The development is also likely to strengthen the federal government’s argument that coordinated national action is required to control terrorism in both provinces.