QUETTA, May 18 — Security forces have killed at least 35 militants and captured three high-ranking commanders during a massive, four-day counter-terrorism operation in the mountainous outskirts of Quetta. Shahid Rind, the adviser to the Balochistan Chief Minister, confirmed on Sunday that the intelligence-based operation successfully destroyed multiple militant camps and hideouts in the rugged Mangla Zarghoon Gar region. In response to recent regional instability, the provincial government has placed security agencies on high alert, suspended rail operations, and imposed strict civil restrictions across Balochistan.
According to Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind, security forces carried out a four-day operation in the Mangla Zarghoon Gar area near Quetta beginning May 13. #DialoguePakistan #Balochistan #Government #ShahidRind #SecurityForces #Operation #Quetta pic.twitter.com/udPOLxO5W5
— Dialogue Pakistan (@DialoguePak) May 18, 2026
Quick Facts
- A four-day military operation in the hills around Quetta left 35 terrorists dead.
- Three top commanders of Balochistan-based militant groups were taken into custody.
- The operation was launched on May 13 following a wave of rocket attacks on the provincial capital.
- Section 144 has been imposed across Balochistan for 30 days, banning public gatherings and weapons.
- Publicly covering faces with masks or mufflers has been outlawed to ensure identification.
- Pakistan Railways suspended all train services in the region for two days due to security threats.
The targeted operation follows a sharp escalation of violence in the province earlier this month, when unidentified groups launched rocket attacks on Quetta from the surrounding mountains. Security concerns deepened last week after militants blew up a strategic bridge in Mastung’s Sheikh Wasil area, blocking the main Quetta-Taftan highway and setting fire to commercial trucks transporting trade goods from Iran. Provincial officials stated that the military action intends to completely dismantle the logistics networks of these banned organizations and their local facilitators.
Pakistani security forces eliminated 33 x terrorists during a successful intelligence-based operation in the Shabaan area of Quetta, Balochistan.
— Eagle Eye (@zarrar_11PK) May 15, 2026
To prevent retaliatory attacks and maintain public order, Additional Chief Secretary Home Mohammad Hamza Shafqaat approved the immediate implementation of Section 144 across the entire province for the next month. Under these emergency regulations, pillion riding on motorcycles, vehicles with tinted windows, unregistered motorbikes, and public gatherings of five or more people are strictly prohibited. Furthermore, the home department has temporarily banned citizens from covering their faces with masks or apparel in public places to assist law enforcement with visual identification.
Government representatives emphasized that the state is prepared to use full force to restore peace in the region. Babar Yousafzai, the provincial adviser for the Home Department, stated that all security apparatuses are heavily deployed to counter incoming threats from both cross-border networks and local separatist factions. With the railways temporarily halted and main transit routes heavily guarded, authorities have urged the public to cooperate with law enforcement during snap checks as operations continue to clear remaining threat pockets in the highlands.
