Nine suspected terrorists were eliminated and four Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) officials were martyred during a fierce gunfight on the outskirts of Quetta on Saturday, officials confirmed.
The high-risk intelligence-based operation was carried out by the CTD and allied security forces in the suburban towns of Kuchlak and Nohsar.
Commenting on the development, Balochistan Chief Minister’s Assistant on Political and Media Affairs Shahid Rind stated that the successful raid was a clear demonstration of the professional capabilities and preparedness of the region’s police agencies.
He highly praised the operational teams for their precise execution of the anti-terror raid and noted that the entire nation remained deeply indebted to the security forces for their tireless sacrifices in purging the country of militancy.
Read: Five terrorists killed in Jhal Magsi
The operation, however, was met with intense resistance from the suspected terrorists, leading to an intense exchange of fire that claimed the lives of four security officers. Rind expressed his grief over the loss and paid tribute to the fallen personnel, emphasizing that they gave their lives to protect public peace and that their sacrifices will never be forgotten.
Several other officers were injured during the shooting and are currently receiving specialized medical care. The provincial government directed health authorities to ensure that injured personnel were provided with the best possible medical facilities for a speedy recovery.
Reaffirming the government’s stance against violent extremism, the spokesperson stated that disruptive elements will not be allowed to derail peace in Balochistan. He asserted that the State would deploy all its authority to counter hostile actors, adding that operations across the board would continue unabated until the threat of terrorism was completely eliminated.
Terrorism is a growing problem for Pakistan, with the number of attacks increasing every year from 2022, according to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), a global monitoring organization. ACLED data shows that attacks in Pakistan almost quadrupled to 2,425 in 2025 from 658 in 2022 and during the same period, attacks by banned militant Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan increased more than seven-fold to 838 from 118.
Although Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has been the worst affected by terrorism, Balochistan has also remained a major target of Indian proxies, who often attack civilians and military installations in the province.
Read also: Security forces kill TTP commander in Pishin, Balochistan
In one such attack on the last day of last year, terrorists attacked innocent civilians in Gwadar and Kharan districts, martyring 18 people, including women, children, elderly and workers.
Security forces and law enforcement agencies responded immediately and successfully foiled the “evil designs” of the terrorists, killing 92 militants, while 15 security personnel were also martyred during the operation.
