Five terrorists, including key commander, killed in Panjgur IBO: sources

ISLAMABAD: Security forces killed five terrorists, including a key militant commander, during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Balochistan’s Panjgur district on Monday, security sources said.

According to the sources, the operation was conducted in the Sarkini and Chedgi areas under Operation Rad-ul-Fitna-3 and targeted members of Fitna al-Hindustan.

Five terrorists were killed during the operation, including the group’s commander Wazir, son of Jamal, the sources said.

Security forces also recovered four motorcycles, machine guns, heavy weapons and a large quantity of ammunition from the possession of the slain militants.

The killed terrorists were allegedly involved in robbery, extortion, kidnapping and terrorist activities targeting traders and civilians in the area.

A clearance operation is currently underway in the surrounding areas to eliminate any remaining militants, the sources said.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the security forces for conducting the successful operation and commended their professionalism following the killing of five terrorists.

In a statement, Naqvi said the security forces had once again demonstrated their determination in the fight against terrorism.

He said Pakistan’s security forces were continuing efforts to eliminate terrorists from Balochistan and restore lasting peace in the province.

Naqvi said the entire nation remained united against terrorism and stood firmly alongside the security forces in the fight against militant elements.

The interior minister reiterated the government’s commitment to providing full support to security forces in their efforts to eradicate terrorism from the country.

A day earlier, security forces had killed 15 terrorists affiliated with Fitna al-Khawarij during a series of intelligence-based operations under Operation Rad-ul-Fitna-3 across several districts of Balochistan, including Mastung, Bolan, Washuk, Awaran, Sibi, Khuzdar, Harnai and Nushki.

Pakistan has witnessed a rise in terrorist activity, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since 2021, when the Afghan Taliban came to power in Afghanistan.

According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), the two provinces remained Pakistan’s main hotspots for violence during the second quarter of 2026, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa emerging as the worst-affected region.

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The report said KP and Balochistan together accounted for nearly 96% of all violence-related fatalities recorded during the quarter. More than 61% of the total deaths, or 475, were reported in KP, while Balochistan accounted for 265 deaths, or 34%.

KP also recorded the highest number of violent incidents, with 151 cases representing 57% of the nationwide total. Balochistan followed with 94 incidents, accounting for 35% of the total.