Security forces eliminate 12 terrorists in Pakistan's southwestern province: Military

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s security forces on Thursday eliminated 12 terrorists in the southwestern province Balochistan, the military said, as part of the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign "Radd-ul-Fitna."

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operations targeted militants affiliated with Fitna al-Hindustan, which is Islamabad’s term to describe the banned Balochistan Liberation Army, an India-backed proxy network operating in the country.

In the first of the two operations, on August 5, security forces detected the movement of six militants in the bordering district of Washuk in the province. All six were killed in the exchange, the military said.

A day later, in a separate operation in Mastung district, forces exchanged intense fire with another group of militants, killing another six. A militant hideout used in the operation was also destroyed, according to the ISPR statement.

The military reiterated that security forces and law enforcement agencies would continue operations at full pace under the "Azm-e-Istehkam" framework which was approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan to root out foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country.