Security forces kill 3 terrorists, including commander, in Balochistan's Mastung: state media

On Monday, state media reported that security forces in Balochistan’s Mastung killed three terrorists, including a commander, during a targeted operation. The troops used a quadcopter to strike a vehicle belonging to Fitna-al-Hindustan, a group often singled out by the state to blame India for terrorism and destabilization in Pakistan.

The precision strike resulted in the complete destruction of the vehicle and the death of the three terrorists, including a commander. Balochistan has seen a surge in terrorist attacks over the past weeks, leading security forces to ramp up their counter-terrorism efforts. In July, 83 terrorist attacks were recorded in the province, which rose to 89 in August, according to a monthly report from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies.

On the night of August 31-September 1, TTP terrorists carried out a coordinated assault on the Customs House in Pishin district's Ziarat Cross. Security forces responded with force, killing 10 terrorists and suffering casualties with two officers and six others falling in the fire exchange. On August 31, 11 members of Fitna-al-Hindustan, who had established an illegal checkpoint for extortion on the N-40 Quetta-Taftan highway in Chagai's Nokcha area, were killed in an intense gun battle.

On September 2, security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in Kalat district, eliminating 12 terrorists and recovering 2.9 tonnes of explosives. Days later, troops killed 11 more terrorists and recovered another cache of explosives during separate operations in Kharan and Washuk districts. A total of 36 terrorists were eliminated during multiple "high-tempo" operations conducted in Mastung, Quetta, Kalat, and Sibi districts, according to Inter-Services Public Relations on September 4. These operations also included thwarting an attack on a police station in Sibi's Bhag area.