‘We’ll uproot terrorism,’ PM Sharif says as Operation Shaaban kills 75 terrorists

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday vowed to “uproot terrorism” after security forces killed 75 terrorists during Operation Shaaban and other intelligence-based operations across Balochistan, as Pakistan intensified its nationwide counterterrorism campaign following a series of coordinated attacks in the province.

According to security sources, 39 terrorists have been killed under Operation Shaaban alone, launched after the terrorist attack on the Mangi Dam police station in southwestern Balochistan province, while another 36 terrorists were killed in separate intelligence-based operations carried out across the province since July 5.

Sources also said security forces repelled another terrorist attack on a police station in the Zehri area of Khuzdar, where Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps (FC) troops killed eight terrorists. They added that helicopter operations also resulted in the reported killing of another five to six terrorists.

The latest operations follow a series of coordinated terrorist attacks in Balochistan over the past week, including assaults on civilians in Hanna Urak, a police checkpoint near the Mangi Dam pumping station in Ziarat district and an Army convoy in the Dela Bandar area. Earlier this week, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said the attacks martyred 42 civilians and security personnel, prompting extensive ground and aerial operations against the attackers.

Pakistan has intensified its nationwide counterterrorism campaign in recent months under the Azm-e-Istehkam strategy and Operation Ghazab lil Haq, expanding intelligence-based operations, precision strikes and border security measures against terrorist groups operating along the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier. Officials say the campaign is aimed at dismantling terrorist networks, infrastructure and logistical support used to facilitate attacks inside Pakistan.

Speaking at the National Defence University in Islamabad, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir said terrorism emanating from across Pakistan's borders would be "crushed with full might of the state."

"The Armed Forces, with the support of the nation, will ensure that terrorist sanctuaries of these proxies along with their facilitators are completely dismantled," the field marshal said.

‘Nation stands shoulder to shoulder’

In a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office, PM Sharif praised the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps and Balochistan Police for the progress of Operation Shaaban.

"The elimination of 75 terrorists so far during the grand operation against Fitna al-Khawarij is a clear testament to the security forces' outstanding professionalism," the prime minister said.

He also praised the forces' operational strategy in conducting operations across Balochistan's rugged mountainous terrain and commended the Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps for repelling the terrorist attack on the police station in Khuzdar.

"We'll uproot terrorism from the country once and for all," PM Sharif said.

"There will be no weakening in the resolve of the security forces and the nation until Fitna al-Khawarij is completely eliminated."

He added that every attempt to undermine peace and stability in Balochistan would be defeated.

"The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with its brave armed forces and police," the prime minister said.

‘Hired killers’

In a separate statement, President Asif Ali Zardari also paid tribute to the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps and Balochistan Police for what he described as the successful conduct of Operation Shaaban against Fitna al-Khawarij in Balochistan.

"Operation Shaaban has once again demonstrated that our security forces possess the full capability to confront every threat," the president said.

President Zardari said those using proxy elements against Pakistan would fail in their objectives.

"Our national resolve is stronger than every conspiracy," he said.

The president also said India, along with certain other anti-Pakistan countries, elements and institutions, was attempting to undermine Pakistan's recent diplomatic achievements by using "anti-state elements as hired killers."

"We will carry Pakistan's recent successes to their logical conclusion and, with the support of our people, we will also defeat terrorism," President Zardari said. "There will be no compromise on the defense of the homeland."

"The state will defeat the scourge of terrorism at all costs," he added.

‘Terrorists cannot escape their fate’

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said Operation Shaaban was "progressing successfully" following the Mangi Dam police station attack.

In a post on X, the chief minister said joint ground and aerial operations by the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps and Balochistan Police in the province's rugged mountainous areas had resulted in the killing of 39 terrorists under Operation Shaaban.

He added that, since July 5, a total of 75 terrorists had been killed in Operation Shaaban and other intelligence-based operations.

"The writ of the state will be upheld in Balochistan at all costs," Bugti said. "Terrorists cannot escape their fate."

According to security sources, ground and aerial operations remain underway across multiple mountainous areas of Balochistan, with security forces continuing to tighten the cordon around terrorists as Operation Shaaban enters its latest phase.