ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s security forces have killed six suspected militants in an intelligence-based operation in the restive southwestern Balochistan province, the military said on Friday, amid a surge in militant attacks in the country.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by area, has long been gripped by a separatist insurgency that has intensified in recent years. Militants frequently target security forces, government officials, infrastructure projects, foreigners and non-local workers.
In a statement, the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said a raid was conducted in Panjgur district over the reported presence of militants belonging to what it called “Fitna-al-Hindustan,” a term Pakistani officials use for Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) militants they say are backed by India. New Delhi rejects the allegation.
“During the conduct of operation, own forces effectively engaged multiple terrorist locations, and after intense fire exchanges, six Indian sponsored terrorists were sent to hell,” the ISPR said in a statement.
The military added that weapons, ammunition, improvised explosive devices and a vehicle were recovered from the militants, who were allegedly involved in other attacks in Balochistan.
The military said it was continuing its operations “to eliminate the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country.”
On June 3, Pakistan’s military said it killed 17 militants in a series of intelligence-based operations across Balochistan following a train bombing that killed more than 30 people last month.
Balochistan is strategically significant for Pakistan due to its vast mineral and hydrocarbon reserves and its role as a transit hub for the multibillion-dollar China–Pakistan Economic Corridor, a flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
The province is also home to the deep-sea Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea, which Islamabad considers critical to regional trade and energy routes linking China, Central Asia, and the Middle East.
Separatist groups accuse Pakistan’s central government of exploiting the natural resources of the province while neglecting local communities. Islamabad rejects the allegations, saying it is investing in development and security to help stabilize the province.
