ISLAMABAD: Security forces have killed three more militants during the ongoing Operation Shaban in Balochistan, bringing the total number of terrorists eliminated in the operation to 67, while 105 militants have been killed in various operations since July 5, according to security sources.
The operation was launched in the aftermath of the deadly attack on the Mangi Dam police station in Ziarat and is being conducted jointly by the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps (FC) and Balochistan Police.
Three more militants killed in latest operation
According to security sources, the latest action targeted members of what Pakistani authorities describe as Fitna al-Khawarij.
With the killing of three additional militants, the number of terrorists eliminated under Operation Shaban has risen to 67, while the overall tally of militants killed in counterterrorism operations since July 5 has reached 105.
Security officials have reiterated that the operation will continue until all identified militant hideouts are cleared.
Operation launched after Ziarat attack
Operation Shaban began after militants attacked the Mangi Dam police station in Ziarat, one of the deadliest recent incidents in Balochistan.
According to the military, the assault resulted in heavy casualties among police personnel before security forces launched a large-scale response involving ground and aerial operations across affected areas.
The joint operation continues with coordination between the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps and Balochistan Police.
Nine More Militants Killed in Ongoing Operation Shaban in Balochistan, Security Sources Say
ISPR details initial response
Speaking earlier this week, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said militants attacked the police checkpoint, but officers mounted a determined resistance, killing 15 militants during the initial exchange of fire.
He said nine police personnel embraced martyrdom in the early stages of the attack, while militants also took several police officials hostage before reinforcements reached the area.
The military spokesperson added that security forces carefully tightened the cordon around the militants because hostages were still inside the area, making the operation particularly sensitive.
Rising security challenges
According to security sources, 42 people, including security personnel and civilians, were martyred in three recent terrorist attacks in Balochistan before the launch of the ongoing operation.
Pakistan has witnessed a resurgence in militant violence, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, since 2021 following the return of the Afghan Taliban to power in Afghanistan.
In response to the deteriorating security situation, Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, targeting what officials described as militant hideouts across the border. Pakistani authorities have said the operation resulted in the deaths of numerous militants and damaged their operational infrastructure.
Tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border have also remained high. In October 2025, cross-border clashes erupted after attacks on Pakistani border posts. According to Pakistani authorities, more than 200 Taliban fighters and allied militants were killed during the fighting, while 23 Pakistani soldiers embraced martyrdom defending the country’s borders.
Despite multiple rounds of diplomatic engagement, Islamabad maintains that lasting progress has remained difficult due to what it describes as insufficient action against militant groups operating from Afghan territory.
