Security forces, in coordination with police, killed 49 terrorists in a series of “high-tempo” intelligence-based operations (IBOs) across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Balochistan over the past few days, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Friday.

According to the military’s media wing, the operations were conducted as part of an ongoing counterterrorism campaign aimed at eliminating Indian proxies, Fitna Al Khwarij and Fitna Al Hindustan networks and preventing attempts to undermine peace and stability in the country.

In K-P, 12 terrorists were killed during multiple operations in Bannu, North Waziristan, Orakzai and Khyber districts, the ISPR said. A substantial cache of explosives, improvised explosive device (IED) detonators, weapons, ammunition and motorcycles was also recovered and destroyed during the operations, it added.

In Balochistan, 37 terrorists backed by Fitna Al Hindustan were killed in 10 intelligence-based operations conducted in Mastung, Mach, Khuzdar and Panjgur districts, according to the statement. The operations also resulted in the seizure and destruction of “significant quantity” of weapons, explosive drums and remote-detonation equipment.

Also Read: Five terrorists killed in IBO’s in Balochistan’s Panjgur: security sources

“Security Forces of Pakistan remain resolute and unwavering in their commitment to defend the nation’s frontiers,” the statement issued by ISPR said. It further noted that sanitisation operations were continuing across the provinces to locate and eliminate any remaining terrorists.

“Sanitization operation are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian sponsored Kharji/ terrorist found in the area as relentless Counter Terrorism campaign under vision Azm e Istehkam (as approved by Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” the statement concluded.

Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the security forces for their successful operations that killed 49 terrorists in K-P and Balochistan, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Friday.

He said the security forces and police conducted joint operations in the two provinces and killed a total of 49 terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan.

The prime minister praised the security forces and police for their “professional expertise” in conducting the operations.

Reiterating the government’s resolve, the premier said the administration was determined to completely eliminate terrorism from the country.

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari also appreciated the IBOs undertaken by the security forces and police, which resulted in the death of 49 terrorists in K-P and Balochistan.

President Zardari said the operations would continue with full force until terrorism was totally eliminated from the country, a statement issued by the president’s office said.

“Terrorist elements operating with foreign backing would never succeed in undermining peace and stability in Pakistan,” the head of the state stated.

He expressed confidence that the people of the two provinces marred by terrorism would “soon be free of terrorism” and be able to achieve peace, national development and prosperity.

Yesterday, security forces eliminated five terrorists during an IBO in Balochistan’s Panjgur district, according to security sources as per Radio Pakistan. The forces continued operations against Fitna al-Hindustan under Operation Radd-ul-Fitna-3 on August 20.

Meanwhile, on August 18, security forces killed more than nine terrorists in different IBOs in Ziarat, Harnai and Surab districts of Balochistan. A day before that, on Monday, security forces killed six terrorists in separate IBOs in Balochistan, with four killed in an operation in the border area between Ziarat and Harnai and two others in Killi Zaik.

On Sunday, seven terrorists affiliated with Fitna-al-Khawarij were killed, and several others incapacitated in an IBO in Balochistan’s Kharan district, according to security sources. The operation was carried out in the Lajay area of Kharan under Operation Radd-ul-Fitna-3 following intelligence reports about the presence of terrorists.

In an operation on August 10, security forces killed five terrorists, including a key commander identified as Wazir, son of Jamal, in Balochistan’s Panjgur district, according to security sources. The operation was carried out in the Sarkeni and Chidgi areas under Operation Radd-ul-Fitna-3.

Before that, on August 9, security forces eliminated 15 terrorists in IBOs across Mastung, Bolan, Washuk, Awaran, Sibi, Khuzdar, Harnai and Noshki under Operation Radd-ul-Fitna-3. A large quantity of weapons and ammunition was also recovered, while the operations significantly disrupted the terrorists’ network and restricted their movement across Balochistan, the sources said.

Also on August 6, security forces killed 12 terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Hindustan during IBOs in the Washuk and Mastung districts of Balochistan, the military’s media wing reported.

Terrorism is a growing problem for Pakistan, with the number of attacks rising every year since 2022, according to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), a global monitoring organisation. Data from ACLED shows attacks in Pakistan rose nearly fourfold to 2,425 in 2025 from 658 in 2022, and over the same period, TTP attacks increased more than sevenfold to 838 from 118.

Read More: Six terrorists killed in separate IBOs in Balochistan

Although Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has borne the brunt of terrorism, Balochistan has also remained a major target of Indian proxies, which often target civilians and military installations in the province.

In one such attack on the last day of 2025, terrorists targeted innocent civilians in Balochistan’s Gwadar and Kharan districts, where 18 people, including women, children, the elderly and labourers, embraced martyrdom.

The forces continued operations across the provinces against what the state describes as Indian-sponsored terrorists and their proxies, but despite these efforts, the groups have continued to target civilian and defence installations.

Earlier this month, at least 30 people, including 27 police personnel, were martyred when terrorists identified by the state as the Indian proxy Fitna al-Hindustan ambushed police personnel deployed in the Kach Mangi Phase III area of Ziarat, triggering hours-long gun battles. The attackers also abducted several civilians and police personnel after the assault.

In the aftermath of the attack, the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps and Balochistan Police launched a joint operation, which remains underway, with forces intensifying action against terrorists across the province.