ISPR says fighters linked to Fitna al Hindustan as anti-terror campaign continues
Pakistani security forces killed eight militants during an intelligence operation in Balochistan’s Kalat district on December 24, the army said on Thursday.
In a statement, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the militants were linked to Fitna al Hindustan, a group Pakistan describes as a proxy for India operating in the province.
The state has designated several Balochistan-based militant groups as Fitna al Hindustan to highlight what it says is India’s role in terrorism and destabilization in Pakistan.
The ISPR said the operation involved an intense exchange of fire after security forces identified the location of the militants. All eight died during the confrontation.
Weapons, ammunition and explosives were recovered at the scene. The militants were said to have been involved in multiple attacks in the area.
Disinfection operations were continuing to ensure that no other militants remained in the vicinity, the statement said.
The Army said the anti-terror campaign would continue at full pace under ‘Azm-e-Istehkam’, a federal initiative approved by the Federal Apex Committee of the National Action Plan, to eliminate foreign-sponsored terrorism.
Read: 12 Indian-backed terrorists killed in Kalat IBO: ISPR
The latest operation follows a similar raid in Kalat on December 6, when security forces killed 12 militants during an intelligence-based operation, according to the ISPR. Weapons and explosives were also recovered in that operation.
Kalat is located in central Balochistan, along the mountain belt south of Quetta. It crosses key regional routes, including the N-25 highway linking Quetta with Karachi and Gwadar.
The district is about 140 to 160 kilometers south of Quetta by road and lies at an elevation of about 2,000 meters above sea level.
Its mountainous, semi-arid terrain, marked by narrow valleys and plateaus, has long complicated security operations and restricted road access.
The rugged and sparsely populated landscape has historically provided hideouts for militant groups and allowed corridors of movement in the region.
Read more: Forces kill four terrorists in Kalat IBO
Security forces have carried out multiple intelligence-based operations in Kalat and neighboring districts this year amid a sustained militant threat.
In early 2025, operations were intensified across central Balochistan, including Khuzdar and Awaran districts, following an increase in attacks on infrastructure and security patrols.
Authorities say several operations during the first quarter of the year led to arrests and recoveries of weapons linked to banned groups.
Pakistan ranked second in the 2025 Global Terrorism Index, with a 45 percent increase in deaths from terrorist attacks compared to the previous year.
In October, the Islamabad-based Center for Security Research and Studies said violence increased in the third quarter of 2025 due to an increase in militant attacks and intensified counterterrorism operations.
