QUETTA – A deadly drone attack on Pakistan Army patrol vehicles took lives of two soldiers, including a major, in Balochistan on Saturday, as security forces intensified sweeping counterterrorism offensive that left eight militants, including a suicide bomber, dead in terror-hit province.
Fitna Al Hindustan (FAH) militants deployed armed quadcopters against military vehicles engaged in security patrols. Major Omer Minhas Nasir of Chakwal district and Havildar Muhammad Adnan Khan of Kotli Sattian embraced martyrdom in the attack while performing duties linked to ongoing security operations in the region.
The soldiers were deployed to protect civilian movement, maintain security along important highways and prevent militant groups from carrying out further attacks.
The attack came against the backdrop of an intensified military campaign in Balochistan, where security forces had already inflicted significant losses on militants during an overnight operation.
Troops engaged terrorists in the Kolpur area following intelligence-based operations launched a day earlier. Eight terrorists, including a suicide bomber, were killed during the engagement, while security personnel recovered a substantial cache of weapons and ammunition. The military described the development as a significant blow to the operational capabilities of militant networks active in the region.
The offensive, which began on November 13, has involved multiple intelligence-based operations, extensive patrolling and security deployments in Kolpur, Kardagap, Nushki and surrounding areas.
Amid continuing operations, security forces have stepped up surveillance and area domination activities along the strategically important Quetta–Taftan National Highway (N-40). The highway serves as a crucial transport corridor for local residents and commercial vehicles, making its security a major priority during the ongoing offensive.
Troops have been conducting patrols and monitoring suspected militant movement routes to protect civilian traffic while sustaining military operations against armed groups. Authorities maintained that securing the highway would help prevent further attacks and allow uninterrupted movement through the affected areas.
Balochistan witnessed a sharp deterioration in security in 2026, with surge in militant attacks, casualties and intensified counterterrorism operations making it one of Pakistan’s most violence-affected provinces. Armed groups, particularly Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), increasingly targeted security personnel, government installations and strategic transport routes.
829 people were killed in 186 violence-related incidents during July–September 2026, compared with 265 fatalities across 94 incidents in the preceding quarter. The province accounted for nearly 59% of Pakistan’s terrorism- and counterterrorism-related deaths during the third quarter, surpassing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Pak Army foil Afghan Infiltration at Marghina Border; One Terrorist killed
