Govt said several militant hideouts and temporary camps were destroyed during the operation, claiming it inflicted significant damage on their terrorist structure
News Desk
QUETTA: The Balochistan government said security forces killed more than 35 militants during an intelligence-based operation in the Mangla Zarghoon Ghar area, in an ongoing campaign that authorities said had been under way since 13 May.
In a statement, Shahid Rind, adviser to the chief minister of Balochistan on political and media affairs, said the operation targeted elements described by officials as “Fitna al-Hindustan”, a term used by the provincial administration to refer to armed groups operating in the region which it alleges are backed by external actors.
Rind said several militant hideouts and temporary camps were destroyed during the course of the operation, which he described as inflicting “significant damage” on what he termed their organizational structure. He further said that three senior commanders were arrested, adding that intelligence gathered from the detainees was being used to guide follow-up operations in surrounding areas.
Authorities claimed the ongoing action was aimed not only at active combatants but also at individuals suspected of facilitating logistical and operational support to armed groups. Officials said efforts were under way to identify and dismantle what they described as wider support networks operating across remote terrain.
Rind said counter-terrorism operations would continue until the complete elimination of militancy in the region, stressing that security forces were maintaining pressure in difficult and sparsely populated mountainous areas where armed groups have historically taken refuge.
He also urged local communities to cooperate with law enforcement agencies and to report any suspicious movement, saying public assistance remained critical to sustaining operations in areas where accessibility and terrain continue to pose logistical challenges.
Security operations in parts of Balochistan have intensified in recent years, with authorities frequently reporting intelligence-based raids and encounters targeting militant groups in remote districts. Officials maintain that such operations are essential for stabilising the region, although independent verification of battlefield claims often remains limited due to restricted access and ongoing security conditions.
