RAWALPINDI | INP | Pakistan’s security forces have killed 74 suspected militants in separate intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said on Friday.
Military reports 31 militants killed in Quetta district, 35 in Mir Ali and eight in Orakzai; weapons and explosives recovered as counterterrorism operations continue
According to an ISPR statement, 31 militants were killed during operations launched on November 3 in the Kurram area of Quetta district, while another 43 were killed in Mir Ali and Orakzai areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the past 48 hours.
The military said security forces conducted extensive intelligence-based operations against militant hideouts in Balochistan as part of an ongoing counterterrorism campaign.
During the operations in Quetta district, troops engaged several suspected militant positions, killing 31 militants following multiple encounters. Weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered, the statement said.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, security forces expanded their operations to Mir Ali and Orakzai to target suspected militant networks.
The ISPR said 35 militants were killed in Mir Ali and eight in Orakzai following intense exchanges of fire.
Security personnel also recovered a large quantity of weapons, ammunition, homemade explosives and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) during subsequent searches.
The military alleged that the militants were linked to India-backed groups it identifies as Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan. The allegations of Indian sponsorship could not be independently verified.
According to the ISPR, further clearance operations were underway to locate remaining militants and dismantle their networks.
The military reaffirmed that counterterrorism operations under Azm-e-Istehkam would continue in coordination with law enforcement agencies to address security threats across the country.
Pakistan has experienced persistent militant violence, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, in recent years.
According to a report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), the two provinces accounted for nearly 96 percent of violence-related deaths in Pakistan during the second quarter of 2026.
The report recorded 475 fatalities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 265 in Balochistan, representing approximately 61 percent and 34 percent of the nationwide total, respectively.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded 151 violent incidents, while Balochistan reported 94, highlighting the continuing security challenges in both provinces.
The casualty figures and operational details reported by the ISPR could not be independently verified.
