Prime Minister and President Praise Security Forces, Assure Nation Firmly Supports Armed Forces
At least 41 terrorists were killed in two separate intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Balochistan on Thursday, the army’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said on Friday.
An IBO was carried out on the outskirts of Harnai district based on reports of the presence of “Indian-sponsored khawarij” in the vicinity. According to the ISPR statement, an intense exchange of fire took place between the security forces and the terrorists, leaving 30 of the latter dead. A large cache of ammunition and explosives was seized from the spot and destroyed, ISPR added.
Meanwhile, security forces also raided a terrorist hideout in Panjgur district, in which 11 terrorists affiliated with “Fitna-e-Hindustan” were killed. Weapons, ammunition and looted money were also recovered in a bank robbery in Panjgur on December 15, ISPR claimed, adding that terrorists were also involved in multiple attacks in the past.
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Sweeping operations are being carried out to arrest any remaining terrorists in the area. The ISPR said security forces and law enforcement agencies continue to carry out counter-terrorism efforts under the “Azm-e-Istehkam” initiative, approved by the Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday praised Pakistan’s security forces for their successful operations in Harnai and Panjgur. “Under the vision of Azm-e-Istihkam, our security forces continue to achieve significant successes against terrorism,” he said. “The entire nation supports the armed forces in this continuing fight against terrorism.”
President Asif Ali Zardari also praised the security forces for their operations against terrorists in Balochistan and Bannu. “Effective action against groups like Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna-e-Hindustan reflects the state’s unwavering resolve,” the president said in a statement issued by the presidency’s media wing.
Terrorist activities and IBO
On January 25, security forces killed three terrorists during an intelligence-based operation in Balochistan’s Panjgur district, the military had said. Weapons, ammunition and explosives were recovered at the scene, adding that the terrorists had been involved in multiple attacks in the area. Security forces are continuing search and clearance operations in the region to ensure no other terrorists remain, the statement said.
Earlier this month, ISPR Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry presented a comprehensive review of terrorist activity during 2025, describing the year as historic and results-oriented in Pakistan’s counter-terrorism campaign.
In the past year, he said, an extraordinary number of IBOs have been carried out across the country, reflecting both the scale of the threat and the state’s determination to confront it. “In 2025, complete harmony has been achieved between the State of Pakistan and its people on the issue of terrorism.”
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Providing statistics, Lt. Gen. Sharif said that in 2025, law enforcement agencies conducted 75,175 IBOs across the country, an average of 206 operations each day. Of them, he added, 14,658 operations were carried out in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 58,778 in Balochistan and 1,739 in other parts of the country.
Despite these operations, Pakistan witnessed 5,397 terrorist incidents during the year. KP accounted for the highest number, with 3,811 incidents, followed by Balochistan with 1,557 incidents. Only 29 incidents were reported in the rest of the country. A total of 2,597 terrorists were killed during the year, Lt Gen Sharif said.
Security forces killed three terrorists during an intelligence operation in Balochistan’s Panjgur district, the army said. Weapons, ammunition and explosives were recovered at the scene, adding that the terrorists had been involved in multiple attacks in the area. Security forces are continuing search and clearance operations in the region to ensure no other terrorists remain, the statement said.
