Security forces killed 14 terrorists linked to Indian proxy network Fitna al-Hindustan during a major operation in the Zehri area of Khuzdar, Balochistan, on Saturday, security sources confirmed. The operation, conducted on intelligence reports about the presence of the group, left 14 terrorists dead and 20 others injured.
Residents of the area lauded the efforts of security forces, crediting them with restoring peace and stability in the region. Sources emphasized that the forces remain determined to eliminate the remnants of the Fitna al-Hindustan network in Balochistan.
The Zehri raid follows a similar intelligence-based operation earlier this week in Balochistan’s Sherani district, where seven India-backed militants were killed.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ hideout, killing the militants after an intense exchange of fire. The group reportedly included members of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other India-sponsored outfits.
These back-to-back operations come amid a sharp rise in violence across Pakistan. According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), the third quarter (Q3) of 2025 saw a 46% surge in violence compared to previous months. At least 901 people were killed and 599 injured in 329 incidents of violence, which included terrorist attacks and counter-terror operations.
Out of these fatalities, 516 were identified as militants, while 385 were civilians and security personnel. Civilian deaths stood at 219, whereas 166 members of the security forces were martyred in the line of duty.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan bore the brunt of violence, accounting for 96% of incidents nationwide. KP alone recorded 638 fatalities—71% of the national total—while Balochistan reported 230 deaths, making both provinces the most affected by the ongoing insurgency.
The CRSS report warns that 2025 is set to be one of Pakistan’s deadliest years in recent memory, nearly matching the country’s entire fatality count of 2024 within just nine months.
