• ISPR says over 70 terrorists killed in various engagements over past four days
• Islamabad rubbishes Kabul’s claims of sending fighters across the border into Nuristan
QUETTA/ISLAMABAD: As security forces continue their operations against miscreants across the country, over 70 terrorists have been killed in actions over the past four days, the military said on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the information ministry also rejected Afghanistan’s claims of Pakistani forces’ alleged involvement in any “internal clashes” in the neighbouring country.
In a statement, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) recalled that based on credible intelligence, security forces had launched a “swift operation against the terrorists in Ziarat and surrounding areas” on Sept 21.
“As the Pakistan Army’s operation progresses, more than 71 terrorists have been killed so far in Operation Shaban and other areas of Balochistan in [the] last 96 hours, delivering a serious blow to Indian-backed Afghan proxies,” the statement said.
ISPR noted that Pakistan’s intelligence agencies had identified “multiple hideouts of Indian-sponsored Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan in the general area of Shaban, District Quetta, posing a threat to the local population”.
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.
During the operation in Shaban, security forces engaged the terrorists and cleared multiple hideouts, ISPR said. Following intense exchanges of fire, 33 “Indian-sponsored terrorists” were killed, with weapons, ammunition and explosives also recovered.
Over the last 72 hours, the operation was intensified, resulting in the killing of 23 terrorists, the statement added.
“Security forces have cleared a vast area and relieved local communities of the threat posed by Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan. The clearance operation is continuing until complete neutralisation of the threat,” ISPR stated.
The number of terrorists killed in the Shaban operation had reached 13 on Sept 23, and then increased to 22 the next day.
ISPR then recalled that 11 “Indian-sponsored terrorists” were killed in a separate intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Noshki on Sept 25 (Friday).
Another six “Fitna al- Hindustan terrorists” were neutralised in Mand, with a large quantity of weapons and ammunition recovered, according to ISPR.
The statement highlighted that the “Afghan Taliban regime’s involvement in terrorism activities in Pakistan, backed and sponsored by India, continues to cause loss of precious lives and threaten peace and stability”.
Afghan allegations
“The allegations by the Afghan Taliban regime linking Pakistan with the alleged violence in Nuristan are frivolous, baseless and devoid of any truth,” said a post on the information ministry’s ‘fact-check’ account on X.
The statement came after Afghanistan’s defence ministry alleged that Pakistan-backed individuals had crossed the border and were involved in the reported violence.
According to Reuters, the Afghan Taliban claimed to have killed and wounded several fighters who allegedly crossed into the eastern province of Nuristan. The Taliban account alleged that this group included fighters allied with the militant Islamic State-Khorasan outfit.
“Pakistan categorically rejects the fabricated claims of involvement by its security forces or intelligence agencies in any internal clashes in Nuristan or elsewhere in Afghanistan, including allegations of recruiting or training former Afghan security personnel or facilitating Daesh or any other terrorist group operating in Afghanistan,” the information ministry said.
It pointed out that “not a shred of evidence has been produced to substantiate Pakistan’s involvement; no identities, documents, communications, forensic evidence or independent verification”.
The ministry noted that an alleged video “being peddled on social media to support this false claim only shows a few unarmed individuals who are not even properly dressed or equipped were arrested in what seems to be a pre-planned video shoot by Afghan Taliban regime, well known for lies and fabricated claims”.
“Instead of externalising responsibility for its internal security challenges through fanciful allegations, the Afghan Taliban regime should take credible and verifiable action against terrorist organisations operating from its territory and fulfil its commitments that Afghan soil will not be used for terrorism against Pakistan or any other country.”
The statement further said it was “particularly ironic for the Afghan Taliban regime to accuse Pakistan of supporting terrorism while terrorist organisations operating from Afghanistan continue to pose a direct threat to Pakistan and regional security”.
The ministry highlighted that the presence and activities of “terrorist groups of all types inside Afghanistan are well documented”, including in successive reports of the United Nations and other neutral international organisations.
“Attempts to manufacture a Pakistani connection cannot obscure the reality that these terrorist groups continue to find sanctuary and [a] permissive environment for growth in Afghan territory,” it asserted.
“Such claims by this non-inclusive, non-representative Taliban regime are also reflective of lies to externalise internal dissent and oppression of women, children and minorities,” the ministry said.
Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2026
