Security forces eliminated 12 terrorists in Balochistan’s Kharan district, in a coordinated operation, following an attempted hostage situation on Thursday, according to the military’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The operation targeted a group of roughly 15 to 20 individuals linked to a faction designated by the state as Fitna Al Hindustan, which purportedly highlights India’s role in sponsoring terrorism in the region.
Details from the ISPR indicate that during their assault, the terrorists attacked several key locations, including the City Police Station, the National Bank of Pakistan, and Habib Bank Limited, stealing approximately 3.4 million Pakistani Rupees (about 12,000 U.S. dollars). In response, security forces swiftly engaged the attackers, compelling them to retreat. Throughout multiple engagements, troops successfully dispatched twelve terrorists, effectively averting the hostage crisis described by ISPR.
Operational normalization efforts are in progress in the Kharan area to eradicate any remaining threats, as stated by the ISPR. The military further emphasized its commitment to a sustained counterterrorism strategy under the vision “Azm-e-Istehkam,” part of the Federal Apex Committee’s National Action Plan, aimed at dismantling foreign-sponsored terrorism within Pakistan.
Despite a record number of militant casualties over the past year, violent incidents surged, with a reported 34 percent rise in terrorist attacks and a 21 percent increase in fatalities, according to the Pak Institute for Peace Studies. As revealed in a press briefing by ISPR Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, law enforcement agencies conducted 75,175 intelligence-based operations across Pakistan in 2025, with a notable concentration of 58,778 operations occurring in Balochistan.
A detailed breakdown of the terror incidents shows that 5,397 such events transpired nationwide in 2025, with 71 percent originating from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 29 percent from Balochistan. Recent intelligence operations have already led to additional significant captures, with four terrorists killed earlier this month in Kalat district. –LORD
