The slain militants were said to be part of the Indian proxy network “Fitna al-Hindustan,” which Islamabad has blamed for sponsoring terrorism and destabilisation efforts in the country.

According to the ISPR, the first operation took place in the Chiltan mountain range of Quetta district, where security forces, acting on confirmed intelligence, engaged the terrorists’ stronghold. “During the operation, our troops effectively targeted the location and, after an intense exchange of fire, 14 Indian-sponsored terrorists were sent to hell,” the statement said.

In another operation in Buleda, Kech district, security forces raided a hideout and killed four more militants. Weapons, explosives, and ammunition were recovered from the site. “The neutralised terrorists were actively involved in numerous attacks against security forces and civilians,” the ISPR added.

The statement further noted that sanitisation operations are underway in both regions to eliminate any remaining terrorist elements. The military reaffirmed its commitment to continuing counter-terrorism operations to eradicate “foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism” from Pakistan.

President Asif Ali Zardari lauded the security forces’ efforts, calling the operation a “reflection of their unwavering resolve” to eliminate terrorism from the country.

Also Read: Seven Indian-backed terrorists killed, six soldiers martyred in Kurram operation

The latest military actions come amid a resurgence of militant violence, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, following the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) withdrawal from a ceasefire in 2022.

A day earlier, six Pakistan Army soldiers, including a captain, were martyred in a similar IBO in Kurram district, where seven militants were also killed.