27 Militants Killed in Two-Phase Mastung Operation in Balochistan

Pakistani security forces have killed 27 militants in a two-phase Mastung operation in Balochistan, security sources said, in one of the biggest single actions against armed groups in the province this year.

The intelligence-based operation was carried out in the Karam Valley area of Mastung district under Operation Radd-ul-Fitna 3. According to security sources, 15 militants were killed in the first phase and 12 more in the second, bringing the total to 27.

A local militant commander was also killed along with his associates, the sources said. Security forces recovered a large quantity of weapons, ammunition and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from the hideouts used by the militants.

No casualties among security personnel were reported. A sanitisation operation is under way in the area to clear any remaining militants, and security officials said operations would continue until terrorism is eliminated from Balochistan.

Mastung Operation at a Glance

Why Mastung Matters

Mastung lies about 50 kilometres south of Quetta, on the main road and rail routes that link the provincial capital with the rest of Balochistan. Its mountains and valleys have long been used by armed groups as hiding places, which makes the district important for security in Quetta and along the highways.

The district has seen some of the deadliest attacks in the province. A suicide bombing at a religious gathering in Mastung in September 2023 killed more than 50 people, and buses and security convoys on the Quetta–Karachi road have been targeted several times over the years. Levies posts and government officials in the area have also faced attacks.

How the Mastung Operation Affects You

For people in Balochistan, operations of this kind are aimed at making roads, markets and public gatherings safer. Travellers on the Quetta–Karachi and Quetta–Taftan routes, traders who move goods through the district and workers on development projects are among those most affected when militant activity rises in the area.

Clearing hideouts and seizing explosives also reduces the risk of roadside bombs, which have been one of the most common forms of attack in the province. Residents are usually advised to cooperate with checkpoints and to report suspicious movement while sanitisation operations are under way.

Security Situation in Balochistan

Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have borne the brunt of militant violence in recent years. Security forces have stepped up intelligence-based operations in both provinces, with the government saying the campaign will continue until the last militant is eliminated.

2024 was the deadliest year for security forces in a decade, with hundreds of personnel killed in terror attacks across the country, according to independent security trackers. Intelligence-based operations, rather than large military offensives, have since become the main tool against armed groups hiding in remote areas.

Security officials described the Mastung operation as part of a wider push against militant networks in central Balochistan. Earlier intelligence-based operations in nearby districts have also targeted hideouts used to plan attacks on highways and security posts, and officials say information gathered in such raids often leads to follow-up action.

What Happens Next

Security sources said the sanitisation of the Mastung operation area is still in progress. Further details, including the identities of those killed and the groups they belonged to, are expected once the operation is completed and an official statement is issued by the military’s media wing.

Officials have repeatedly said that operations in Balochistan will continue alongside development work, so that peace allows roads, mining and trade projects in the province to move forward.

For official updates, visit the ISPR website.

Read More: Pakistan Afghanistan Ceasefire Agreed After Deadly Border Clashes and Reported Strikes in Kabul