13 Militants Killed in Security Operations in Pakistan’s North Waziristan and Mastung

PESHAWAR/QUETTA (Terror Monitor) — Pakistani security forces have killed 13 militants in separate counterterrorism operations in the country’s northwestern tribal district of North Waziristan and southwestern Balochistan province, according to security sources.

The operations were carried out as part of ongoing counterterrorism efforts against militant networks operating in the two provinces, the sources said.

8 TTP militants killed in North Waziristan

Security sources said security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in North Waziristan, targeting militants associated with the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Eight militants were killed during the operation, according to the sources.

Pakistan’s military and government authorities officially refer to TTP militants as “Fitna al-Khawarij,” a terminology adopted in official statements to describe the group and its members.

The sources said weapons and ammunition were recovered from the militants following the operation.

Security forces continued a clearance operation in the surrounding area to search for any remaining militants and secure the area, according to the sources.

Five militants killed in Mastung

Separately, security forces conducted an operation in Mastung district of Balochistan against what Pakistani authorities describe as “Fitna al-Hindustan.”

Five militants were killed in the operation, security sources said.

Pakistani military and government authorities use the term “Fitna al-Hindustan” for what they describe as an Indian-backed militant network involved in terrorism, sabotage and unrest, particularly in Balochistan.

The operations were described by the sources as part of ongoing counterterrorism efforts under Operation Radd-ul-Fitna 3, which targets militant organizations including the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).

The security sources said weapons and ammunition were recovered from the militants killed in the operation.

A clearance operation was also continuing in the area to eliminate any remaining militant presence, the sources said.

Claims of militant affiliations not independently verified

The security sources did not provide further details about the identities of those killed or publicly release evidence establishing the affiliations of all the militants.

In particular, the information available did not independently establish whether those killed in Mastung were members of the BLA or another militant network.

The allegation that India supports militant networks operating in Balochistan is the position of the Pakistani government and has not been independently established in the information available regarding these operations.

Pakistan has faced a persistent militant threat in both Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with security forces conducting frequent operations against the TTP, BLA and other armed groups.

Authorities have repeatedly said that such operations will continue until militant networks are dismantled and the security situation in the affected areas is brought under control.