4 more terrorists killed in ongoing Operation Shaban in Balochistan: state media

Another four terrorists have been killed during the ongoing Operation Shaban in Balochistan, following which the total number of terrorists killed in the operation has reached 83, state-owned Pakistan TV reported on Tuesday, citing security sources.

The ongoing sweep was launched in retaliation for a deadly attack on a police post at the Mangi Dam pumping station in Ziarat. During that assault, armed attackers kidnapped and killed 27 police officers. Troops from the army, Frontier Corps, police and the Anti-Terrorism Force are participating in the joint operation.

In a post on the social media platform X, the broadcaster said, “Security sources say four more khawarij terrorists were killed in ongoing air and ground operations, taking the total number of terrorists killed in Operation Shaban to 83.”

“Since July 5, a total of 121 khawarij terrorists have been eliminated in Operation Shaban and other intelligence-based operations,” it said, adding that the operation would continue “until the last terrorist is neutralised”.

On Monday, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that the killing of terrorists in Operation Shaban and other intelligence-based operations “reflects the high level of preparedness, professionalism, and operational readiness of Pakistan’s security forces”.

The statement quoted him as saying that “the fight will continue until the elimination of Fitna al-Hindustan terrorists”. The government uses the term “Fitna al-Hindustan” to refer to India-sponsored groups in Balochistan that carry out terrorist attacks on Pakistani soil.

Last week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the country’s civil and military leadership had taken a “mutual and singular decision” to end terrorism after multiple major terrorist incidents in Balochistan.