3 More Terrorists Killed as Operation Shaban Continues in Balochistan

Security forces have killed three more suspected terrorists as part of Operation Shaban in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, state media reported Wednesday, citing security sources. This latest toll brings the total number of terrorists killed during the ongoing operation to 88.

According to state-run Pakistan TV, security forces and law enforcement agencies have killed 126 terrorists in Balochistan since July 5, through Operation Shaban and other intelligence-based operations. The operation was initiated in response to a deadly attack on a police post at the Mangi Dam pumping station in Ziarat, where armed assailants kidnapped and killed 27 police officers.

Balochistan has been grappling with persistent terrorism. A monthly security assessment by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) indicated that Pakistan's security situation deteriorated sharply in May, largely due to escalating terrorist violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The report highlighted Balochistan as the most affected province, recording a 109% increase in terrorist attacks compared to April.

The province also saw a surge in kidnappings, with 52 out of 54 reported nationwide abductions occurring in Balochistan during May. This trend underscores the growing operational reach and confidence of terrorist groups in the region. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently stated that the country's civil and military leadership had made a "mutual and singular decision" to end terrorism, following several major attacks in Balochistan.

“

One thing is decided: it is a mutual and singular decision of the civil and military leadership that we must end terrorism collectively.