Security forces killed eight India-backed terrorists belonging to Indian proxy Fitna al-Hindustan in two intelligence-based operations in Balochistan’s Kharan and Mastung districts, the military’s media wing said on Saturday.
ISPR confirmed to the Express Tribune that security forces received intelligence about the movement of a group of terrorists in Kharan on June 25. In a “precise and skilful engagement,” three terrorists were killed and several others were injured.
A separate operation the next day was more dangerous. In a second intelligence-based operation on June 26 in Mastung district, security forces acted on credible information regarding the presence of a suspected suicide bomber. Following an intense exchange of fire, five terrorists — including the suicide bomber — were neutralised. Weapons, ammunition, improvised explosive devices, and motorcycles were recovered from both sites.
The India-backed terrorists Fitna al-Hindustan Designation
The federal government last year officially designated all terrorist groups operating in Balochistan as “Fitna al-Hindustan”, accusing India of sponsoring a proxy war through these outfits. PM Shehbaz Sharif reinforced that framing this week, saying India was “increasingly resorting to covert tactics, proxies to undermine peace in Pakistan.”
The designation is strategic. By labelling Balochistan’s militant groups as Indian proxies, Pakistan internationalises what was previously framed as a domestic insurgency. The UK’s Special Envoy to Afghanistan, Richard Lindsay, gave that narrative international support earlier this week — his acknowledgement of TTP’s cross-border support structures strengthened Islamabad’s position on sponsored terrorism generally.
Dawn’s confirmed ISPR report cited ACLED data showing attacks in Pakistan rose nearly fourfold to 2,425 in 2025 from 658 in 2022, while TTP attacks increased more than sevenfold to 838 from 118 over the same period. Those numbers are worth sitting with. The military’s response under Operation Azm-e-Istehkam has been aggressive — but the frequency of attacks continues rising alongside the frequency of operations.
“The relentless counterterrorism campaign under the vision of ‘Azm-e-Istehkam’, as approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, will continue at full pace to eliminate the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” ISPR stated in its official release.
President Zardari and PM Shehbaz paid tribute to the security forces, saying the operations reflected the “professionalism, capability and unwavering resolve” of Pakistan’s security services. The Pakistan-India airspace standoff and these Balochistan operations sit within the same bilateral tension — a tension that has not eased since Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos earlier this year.
