Pakistan Forces Kill 15 Militants in Two Operations in Balochistan

Pakistani security forces have killed 15 militants during two separate intelligence-based operations in the restive southwestern province of Balochistan, the military said on Saturday.

According to the army’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations, the operations were carried out on Thursday following intelligence reports about the presence of militants in the area.

The first operation took place in the Harnai district, where troops targeted a hideout used by suspected militants. Security forces engaged the group in a fierce gun battle, resulting in the death of 12 militants.

The military referred to the militants as “Khawarij,” a term used by the Pakistani government to describe members of the banned group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. In 2024, authorities formally designated the group as “Fitna al-Khawarij,” referencing a violent faction from early Islamic history.

In a separate intelligence-led operation in Basima district, security forces tracked down another group of militants and engaged them with mixed calibre weapons.

Following an intense exchange of gunfire, three additional militants were killed, according to the military statement.

The army also said that weapons, ammunition, and explosives were recovered from the slain militants.

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least developed province, has experienced a prolonged insurgency, with militant groups frequently targeting security personnel and government installations.

Authorities have repeatedly blamed attacks in the region on groups such as the Baloch Liberation Army and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.