Security forces on Friday eliminated four terrorists belonging to the Indian proxy group Fitna al Hindustan during an intelligence-based operation (IBO), the military’s media wing confirmed.
According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the terrorists were engaged after an intense firefight in Mastung, where security personnel effectively neutralised their hideout. Weapons, ammunition, and explosives were recovered from the site.
“These terrorists had been actively involved in numerous attacks in the area,” ISPR said, adding that a follow-up sanitisation operation was underway to ensure no other militants were hiding nearby.
The ISPR stressed that security forces remain committed to eradicating Indian-sponsored terrorism and reaffirmed the nation’s resolve to bring perpetrators of violence to justice. The operation comes at a time when terror attacks in Pakistan have sharply escalated, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
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Reports indicate Pakistan has experienced a surge in cross-border terrorism since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021. In August alone, militant attacks surged by 74% compared to July, according to data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS). The think tank recorded 194 fatalities from militant violence that month alone.
Adding to concerns, government officials recently disclosed that more than 8,000 Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants—dubbed Fitna al-Khawarij—have entered KP through unmonitored border routes. These terrorists are believed to be hiding among civilian populations in districts including Peshawar, Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Swat, Shangla, and merged tribal regions.
