Operation Shaban continues across Balochistan following the Ziarat police station attack, with Pakistani authorities saying coordinated military operations have killed dozens of militants amid a broader counterterrorism campaign.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security forces killed nine more militants during ongoing counterterrorism operations in Balochistan, bringing the total number of militants killed since July 5 to 88, according to Pakistani security officials.
The latest operation was conducted under Operation Shaban, launched after the attack on the Mangi Dam police station in Ziarat. The campaign is being carried out jointly by the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps (FC), and Balochistan Police.
What happened during the latest operation?
Security officials said the nine militants were killed in coordinated air and ground operations carried out in different parts of Balochistan.
According to the officials, the number of militants killed under Operation Shaban has reached 52, while separate security operations conducted since July 5 have resulted in a total of 88 militant deaths.
Authorities said the operation will continue until all militants involved are eliminated.
What prompted Operation Shaban?
The operation was launched following the attack on the Mangi Dam police station in Ziarat.
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said earlier this week that India-backed militants attacked the police checkpoint. According to the military, police personnel killed 15 militants during the initial exchange before reinforcements arrived.
The military said nine police personnel were killed in the attack and alleged that militants briefly held police officers hostage before security forces regained control of the area.
What is the broader security situation?
Pakistani authorities said 42 people, including security personnel and civilians, were killed in three recent militant attacks in Balochistan before the launch of the ongoing operation.
Pakistan has witnessed an increase in militant violence, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
How has Pakistan responded to cross-border militancy?
Pakistan has launched a series of counterterrorism operations, including Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, targeting what it says are militant hideouts across the Afghan border.
According to Pakistani authorities, the operation resulted in significant casualties among Afghan Taliban fighters and allied militant groups.
Border tensions also escalated in October 2025 after clashes between Pakistani forces and the Afghan Taliban. Pakistani officials said more than 200 Taliban fighters and allied militants were killed during the fighting, while 23 Pakistani soldiers lost their lives.
Despite several rounds of diplomatic engagement, Islamabad and Kabul have yet to reach an agreement on cross-border militancy. Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban to take action against militant groups operating from Afghan territory, while the Afghan Taliban has denied allowing its territory to be used for attacks against Pakistan.