Security forces kill 17 militants in Balochistan operations

Security forces killed 17 militants in two intelligence-based operations in Balochistan’s Kachhi and Kharan districts, while a Pakistan Army soldier was martyred during an exchange of fire, the military said on Tuesday. The operations were carried out on November 1 after reports about militant activity in the two districts.

According to the military’s account, the first operation took place in the Sanni area of Kachhi district. Security forces acted after receiving intelligence and foiled an attempt to set up a roadblock. Ten militants were killed during that operation, and weapons and ammunition were recovered, the statement said.

A second operation was conducted in Kharan district, where security forces targeted a militant hideout. The military said seven militants were killed following an intense exchange of fire. It also reported recovering weapons and ammunition from the site.

Sepoy Hikmat Ullah was martyred during the Kharan operation, according to the military. He was 25 years old and belonged to Karak district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The military said he fought during the exchange before losing his life.

The military described the operations as part of the counterterrorism campaign under Azm-e-Istehkam, approved by the Federal Apex Committee under the National Action Plan. It said sanitisation operations were continuing in the areas to locate and eliminate any remaining militants.

President Asif Ali Zardari praised security forces for the operations and expressed grief over the soldier’s martyrdom. He commended the forces for preventing the attempted roadblock in Kachhi and said the soldier’s sacrifice for national peace and security would be remembered.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also praised the operations and paid tribute to Sepoy Hikmat Ullah. The developments underline the continued security challenge in Balochistan, where intelligence-based operations remain a central part of the state’s response to militant activity.

The military attributed the attacks to groups it described as Indian-sponsored proxies, an allegation that cannot be independently verified from the information released with the operation details. The reported outcomes, including the casualty figures and recoveries, are based on the military’s statement.