A soldier was martyred and 14 terrorists were killed during a security operation in Balochistan’s Basima, said a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Tuesday.

The military’s media wing said that on June 8, intelligence reports were received regarding terrorists belonging to “Indian proxy, Fitna al Hindustan, in Naal area of District Basima, Balochistan”.

The state has designated Balochistan-based terrorist groups as Fitna al Hindustan to highlight India’s alleged role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan.

The terrorists were reportedly planning an attack on a nearby police station and banks in the general area, added the ISPR.

“On receipt of the information, swift action was undertaken by security forces and an intelligence-based operation was launched to thwart the nefarious designs of the terrorists.”

The military elaborated that during the operation, the movement of “terrorists was effectively checked and engaged by own forces punitively”.

“After [an] intense fire exchange, 14 Indian sponsored terrorists were sent to hell, while multiple terrorists were injured.”

Security forces also destroyed four vehicles and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) during the operation.

However, Lance Havildar Muhammad Abbas was martyred after fighting gallantly with the terrorists and paying the ultimate sacrifice, the military’s media wing said.

“Sanitisation operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian-sponsored terrorists found in the area. Relentless counter terrorism campaign under vision ‘Azm-i-Istehkam’ (as approved by Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” the ISPR added.

On June 5, security forces killed six terrorists in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Balochistan’s Panjgur district, the military’s media affairs wing said.

During the last week of May, security forces killed 17 terrorists during IBOs in different districts of Balochistan following the suicide attack on a train in Quetta. The IBOs were conducted in the districts of Mastung, Nushki, Khuzdar and Kech.

The operations come as the state intensifies its counter-terrorism operations amid a tense security situation in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.