Security forces kill 10 suspected militants in Khuzdar
News Desk
Rawalpindi: Security forces have killed at least 10 suspected militants during an intelligence-based operation in Balochistan’s Khuzdar district, according to security sources.
The operation was carried out in the Shor Parod mountainous range after security personnel received reports about the presence of militants affiliated with what Pakistani authorities describe as the Indian proxy group Fitna al-Hindustan.
Several other militants were also wounded during the exchange of fire, the sources said, adding that security forces would continue operations against militant groups across the country.
The latest operation comes amid heightened security concerns in Balochistan, which, along with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, continues to account for the bulk of Pakistan’s violence-related casualties.
The development follows an earlier operation in Balochistan’s Surab district, where at least eight suspected militants were killed after a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated prematurely while it was allegedly being prepared.
Security forces subsequently tracked the movement of militants fleeing the area and killed 10 of them, according to security sources.
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The latest incidents highlight the continuing security challenge in Balochistan, where militant attacks have remained a persistent concern in recent years.
Pakistan has witnessed a broader rise in militant violence, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, since 2021, following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan.
According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), the two provinces accounted for nearly 96% of all violence-related fatalities recorded across Pakistan during the second quarter of 2026.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was the worst-affected province, recording 475 deaths, or more than 61% of the national total, while Balochistan accounted for 265 deaths, or around 34%.
KP also recorded the highest number of violent incidents during the quarter, with 151 cases, representing 57% of the nationwide total. Balochistan reported 94 incidents, accounting for another 35%.
The figures underline how Pakistan’s security challenge remains heavily concentrated in its western provinces, even as security forces continue targeted operations against militant groups.
