RAWALPINDI — Security forces eliminated 32 militants during coordinated intelligence-based operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan over the past 24 hours, the military’s media wing confirmed on Wednesday.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the joint operations targeted operational networks of state-designated militant groups in both provinces.
ISPR: 32 Alleged Fitna al-Hindustan Militants Killed in Operation Azm-e-Istehkam | Express247#Pakistan #ISPR #OperationAzmEIstehkam #BreakingNews #PakistanArmy #NationalSecurity #PakistanNews #WorldNews #Express247 pic.twitter.com/W6ye6p1fGO
— Express 24/7 (@Express247PK) July 29, 2026
Regional Breakdown of Counter-Terror Operations
The ISPR reported that targeted sanitisation and strike missions were conducted in key areas of KP’s Khyber district and Balochistan’s Nushki region, resulting in significant militant casualties and the recovery of weapons:
- KP (Khyber District): 24 militants affiliated with Fitna-al-Khawarij (the official designation for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan) were killed during area clearance operations on July 28 and 29.
- Balochistan (Nushki): 8 militants linked to Fitna-al-Hindustan (the term used for foreign-sponsored Baloch insurgent groups) were eliminated following gun battles.
- Seizures: Large quantities of automatic weapons, ammunition, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were recovered and destroyed.
Escalating Security Dynamics & Regional Context
The operations form part of the federal government’s broader counter-terrorism strategy under Operation Azm-i-Istehkam, endorsed by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan to eliminate foreign-funded terror networks.
| Operation / Incident | Location | Target Network / Cause | Key Details / Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khyber & Nushki Raids | KP & Balochistan | Fitna-al-Khawarij& Fitna-al-Hindustan | 32 militants killed in 24 hours |
| Operation Shaban | Ziarat, Balochistan | Retaliation for Mangi Dam attack | Launched after July 6 attack that killed 27 police officers |
| Operation Al-Azm | Quetta-Karachi Route | Highway insurgency groups | Initiated following passenger bus attack that killed 3 |
| Tank Checkpost Foil | Tank, KP | Border infiltration attempt | 12 terrorists eliminated on July 24 |
“Relentless counter-terrorism campaign under the vision ‘Azm-i-Istehkam’ by security forces and law enforcement agencies will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country.”
— Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR)
Security data from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) shows that Balochistan witnessed a 109% surge in terrorist activity through May, with 71 attacks and 52 reported abductions, prompting intensified military operations nationwide.
