8 India-sponsored terrorists killed in Quetta, Khuzdar, Nushki districts: ISPR

Security forces in Pakistan have conducted intelligence-based operations in three districts of Balochistan, resulting in the death of eight terrorists allegedly sponsored by India. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced the operations on Sunday, stating that the strikes took place on October 17 in the Quetta, Nushki and Khuzdar districts.

The military media wing detailed that the operations were carried out on the reported presence of terrorists linked to Indian proxy group "Fitna al Hindustan." The state has designated Balochistan-based groups as part of this terror network to underscore India's involvement in terrorism and instability across Pakistan.

In Quetta district's Panjpai area, the terrorists attempted to establish a roadblock to disrupt local traffic. However, security forces intercepted their efforts, leading to the killing of five Indian-sponsored terrorists. Meanwhile, in Nushki district, a terrorist hideout was dismantled during a sanitization operation, with two additional India-sponsored terrorists being eliminated during an intense fire exchange. The ISPR reported that weapons and ammunition were also recovered during this operation.

In Khuzdar, a lone terrorist hideout was engaged by security forces through prompt offensive action, resulting in the death of one more Indian-sponsored terrorist. A large quantity of explosives, amounting to 490 kilogrammes, was seized during this operation. The ISPR emphasized that a continuous counterterrorism campaign, known as "Vision 'Azm-i-Istehkam'," approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, would persist to eradicate foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country.

President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to the security forces for their efforts in eliminating eight terrorists, commending their professional capabilities in thwarting attempts to disrupt traffic in Quetta and acting against terrorism in Nushki and Khuzdar. He affirmed that the conspiracies of terrorists' foreign patrons and their local facilitators would be thwarted.

The President also announced six arrests in Balochistan, including two female suicide bombers and two commanders from a banned organization, as part of intensified operations in the province. Throughout the month, five terrorists were eliminated in Mastung district, according to state media. The number of terrorist attacks in Balochistan rose by seven percent from 83 in July to 89 in August, making Balochistan the province most affected by terrorism, as per data from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies.