Six militants killed during Operation Shaaban-II in Balochistan: sources
Nine suspects detained following intelligence-led security operation in Saran Tangi area of province, say security sources
Published September 22, 2026
- Operation targeted Fitna al-Hindustan militants.
- Weapons, ammunition recovered from killed militants.
- Action conducted on intelligence-based information.
Security forces carried out an operation against India-backed Fitna al-Hindustan terrorists in Balochistan, killing six of them under Operation Shaaban-II, security sources said.
During the operation carried out in the Saran Tangi area, the security forces also detained nine suspected individuals. According to security sources, the operation was launched based on intelligence reports and successfully targeted alleged Fitna al-Hindustan militants.
Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the possession of the slain militants, the security sources added.
The operation was conducted a day after six Pakistan Army personnel, including Captain Abuzar Farooq and Lieutenant Sheraz Babar, embraced martyrdom during the exchange of fire in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Hangu, during which eight militants belonging to the India-sponsored Fitna al-Khawarij were killed.
Pakistan has experienced a marked rise in terrorist activity, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan particularly affected since 2021, following the Afghan Taliban’s return to power.
A report released by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) identified the two provinces as Pakistan’s primary violence hotspots during the second quarter of 2026. KP was recorded as the most severely affected province during the period.
The report found that KP and Balochistan jointly accounted for almost 96% of the fatalities linked to violence nationwide in the quarter. KP recorded over 61% of the deaths, totalling 475, while Balochistan reported 265 fatalities, equivalent to 34%.
KP also registered the largest number of violent incidents, with 151 cases, making up 57% of the total reported across Pakistan. Balochistan ranked second with 94 incidents, accounting for 35%, highlighting the extent to which militant violence remained concentrated in these two provinces.
