• Says weapons, ammunition and IEDs recovered during operations
• President Zardari, PM Shehbaz laud security forces, reaffirm commitment to continuing counter-terrorism drive
ISLAMABAD: Security forces have killed 32 terrorists during operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan over the past 24 hours, the military’s media wing said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said “comprehensive joint operations” were carried out in various parts of the two provinces as part of ongoing action against the “terrorists’ nexus of India-sponsored Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan”.
The state uses the term Fitna al-Khawarij for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and refers to designated Balochistan-based groups as Fitna al-Hindustan to highlight India’s role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan.
The ISPR said the operations in KP and Balochistan were aimed at eliminating terrorists and their facilitators.
Multiple “intelligence-based area sanitisation and targeted operations” were conducted in KP’s Khyber district on July 28 and 29, during which 24 terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij were killed, it said.
Meanwhile, eight terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Hindustan were killed during an “intense engagement” in Balochistan’s Nushki in multiple intelligence-based operations, the ISPR added.
“Weapons, ammunition and improvised explosive devices [IEDs] used by terrorists were also recovered and destroyed during the operations,” it said.
“Sanitisation operations are being conducted to eliminate any other India-sponsored terrorist found in the area.
The relentless counter-terrorism campaign under the vision ‘Azm-i-Istehkam’ (as approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan) by Pakistan’s security forces and law enforcement agencies will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” the ISPR statement said.
Security forces lauded
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the security forces and law enforcement agencies for successfully conducting intelligence-based operations against terrorists in KP and Balochistan, state-run APP reported.
In separate statements, they commended the professionalism and capabilities of the security forces.
President Zardari said the malicious designs of terrorist elements backed by India would be thwarted at all costs.
“The ongoing operations against the Indian proxy groups Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan are essential for safeguarding national security,” he added.
The president and the prime minister vowed that every conspiracy against Pakistan’s peace, stability and sovereignty would be defeated through the nation’s resolve and the professional capabilities of the security forces.
PM Shehbaz said the officers and personnel of the security forces were conducting effective operations against terrorists seeking to undermine the country’s peace.
“The entire nation, including myself, stands shoulder to shoulder with Pakistan’s armed forces in our unwavering resolve to safeguard our beloved homeland,” the prime minister added.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also commended the security forces for their “bravery and professional capabilities” during the operations, according to a series of posts on his ministry’s X account.
“Security forces eliminated 32 terrorists decisively, thereby thwarting their nefarious designs. The successes of the security forces in establishing peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan are commendable,” the minister added.
“The nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the security forces for the complete eradication of the cancer of Fitna al-Hindustan,” he said.
“The terrorists of Fitna al-Hindustan will find no place to hide anywhere,” the minister concluded.
Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2026
