Security forces have thwarted an attempt by militants to block and disrupt traffic on the N-25 highway near Kalat, killing five terrorists and rescuing 23 hostages, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
According to the military’s media wing, the militants had set up a makeshift checkpoint on the highway with the intention of abducting travellers, demanding ransom and taking vehicles.
Security personnel launched an immediate operation against the attackers, killing five of them. A cache of weapons, ammunition and explosives was recovered from the militants’ hideout.
The operation also led to the recovery of six trucks, three buses and two cars, ISPR said. The action comes as security forces intensify counterterrorism operations across Balochistan under Operation Raddul Fitna 3.
On Saturday, security sources said 11 India-backed militants were killed in separate operations in Panjgur and Chagai districts. Five militants were eliminated in the Gowargo area of Panjgur, while six others were killed in operations in the Ameenabad and Siah Chang areas of Chagai, according to the sources. Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the sites.
Balochistan continues to face militant violence, with security forces carrying out intelligence-based operations in various parts of the province.
In a separate incident, 10 labourers were injured when militants targeted a passenger vehicle with an improvised explosive device on College Road in Kharan. Security personnel arrived at the scene and transported the injured to a hospital.
The latest actions follow several counterterrorism operations in Balochistan. On September 4, the ISPR said 48 terrorists had been killed across the province during a 72-hour operation.
Pakistan has experienced a rise in militant attacks since 2021, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan.
