Pakistani forces eliminate seven militants in operation, five troops killed

The Pakistani military has eliminated seven militants during a security clearance operation in Balochistan’s Barkhan district, where five troops were also killed, Pakistan media reports via the army’s media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

A senior military officer was among five soldiers killed.

It said the joint operation by the Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps Balochistan targeted members of what it described as Fitna al Hindustan, a term used by state authorities for armed groups operating in Balochistan.

Officials made it clear that troops engaged a group of militants during the operation, resulting in an exchange of fire in which seven individuals described as Indian-backed Fitna al Hindustan terrorists were killed. Weapons, ammunition, and explosives were also recovered, according to ISPR.

“However, during intense fire exchange, five brave sons of soil, including a field officer, met the ultimate sacrifice and embraced shahadat (martyrdom),” the statement added.

The deceased personnel were identified as Major Tauseef Ahmed Bhatti, 31, from Pakpattan; Naik Fida Hussain, 36, from Sukkur; Sepoy Zakir Hussain, 32, from Skardu; Sepoy Suhail Ahmed, 21, from Khanewal; and Sepoy Muhammad Ayaz, 24, from Rahim Yar Khan.

ISPR added that sanitisation operations are continuing in the area to clear any remaining militants.

It noted that Pakistan’s counter-terrorism campaign under the national Azm-i-Istehkam strategy will continue “at full pace” to eliminate what it described as foreign-backed militancy.

The statement comes amid a series of recent security operations in Balochistan. In March, security forces killed at least 15 militants in separate intelligence-based operations in Harnai and Basima, while earlier in February, 10 militants were killed in an operation in Zhob.

Pakistan has seen a rise in militant attacks since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021, with Islamabad repeatedly urging Kabul to take action against groups it says operate from Afghan territory.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov