ZHOB: Pakistan forces have killed three more Indian-sponsored militants during an operation in the Sumbaza area of Zhob district, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The operation was carried out on the night of 10 and 11 April 2025 in areas surrounding Sambaza along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. It followed a series of engagements by security forces from 7 to 9 August 2025 in which 47 militants were eliminated.
The ISPR said the latest action was a deliberate sanitization operation to clear the region of remaining militant threats. Security personnel successfully neutralized three militants linked to Indian sponsorship. Weapons, ammunition, and explosives were recovered from the site.
The military’s media wing reiterated that Pakistan’s security forces remain fully committed to protecting the nation’s borders and preventing any attempts to destabilize the country’s peace, stability, and progress.
This latest operation in Zhob is part of a wider security campaign in Balochistan aimed at eliminating groups supported by foreign actors. Such groups have been accused of carrying out attacks to disrupt law and order in the region.
Last month, Pakistan forces also conducted an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Mastung district of Balochistan. The operation, carried out on 23 July 2025, targeted the reported presence of militants from the group “Fitna al Hindustan,” which is alleged to be an Indian proxy.
During the Mastung operation, security forces effectively engaged the militants’ location, killing three Indian-sponsored terrorists. However, the action also resulted in the martyrdom of two Pakistan Army soldiers, including a Major.
Officials say the back-to-back operations in Balochistan highlight the continued threat posed by Indian-backed elements operating from across the border. They stress that such groups have been involved in attempts to sabotage peace efforts, target security forces, and harm the civilian population.
Security analysts note that the Sambaza and Mastung operations demonstrate Pakistan’s enhanced counterterrorism capabilities, particularly in sensitive border regions. These areas have long been used by militant networks to infiltrate and carry out attacks.
The ISPR’s statement emphasized that Pakistan will maintain a proactive approach to dealing with security threats. It stated that the armed forces will not allow any militant group—whether local or foreign-sponsored to operate freely inside Pakistan’s territory.
Authorities have urged the public to cooperate with security forces by reporting any suspicious activity in their areas. They say public cooperation remains vital in ensuring long-term stability, especially in regions near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
The government has also reiterated its position that external support to anti-state elements is a violation of international norms and threatens regional peace. Diplomatic channels have been used in the past to raise the issue of alleged Indian interference, but officials claim such activities have continued.
With ongoing security operations in border districts, military officials believe the militant network in the region is being steadily dismantled. However, they caution that the fight against terrorism requires sustained vigilance, as hostile elements may attempt to regroup.
The Zhob operation marks another step in Pakistan’s broader counterterrorism strategy, aimed at securing its borders, dismantling militant infrastructure, and ensuring that peace and development efforts in Balochistan are not derailed.
According to ISPR, security forces in Zhob killed 33 Khawarij while foiling an infiltration attempt from Afghanistan.
