Pakistan’s military said Thursday it has wrapped up a weeklong offensive in Balochistan that it claims killed 216 fighters, following a wave of coordinated attacks by the separatist Balochistan Liberation Army across the province.
The operation, named Operation Radd ul Fitna 1, was launched on January 29 after militants targeted schools, banks, markets and security installations in one of the largest assaults in the region in recent years, according to a military statement.
The campaign signals an escalation in Islamabad’s efforts to contain a long running insurgency in Balochistan, a resource rich province that has seen recurring violence between separatist groups and state forces for decades.
Pakistan’s military said the offensive involved combing and sanitisation missions aimed at dismantling sleeper cells. It added that the action was based on “meticulous planning” and intelligence driven targeting.
According to the statement, 216 fighters were killed and a “substantial cache of foreign origin weapons, ammunition, explosives and equipment” was recovered. The military said initial analysis suggested the groups had received external logistical support.
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Officials also reported casualties during the campaign. Thirty six civilians, including women and children, and 22 members of the security forces and law enforcement agencies were killed during the operations.
The Balochistan Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for the attacks that triggered the crackdown, saying it carried out coordinated strikes across multiple districts.
Balochistan has faced a separatist movement for decades, with armed groups accusing the federal government of exploiting the province’s natural resources. The region holds significant reserves of coal, copper, gold and natural gas, which generate major revenue for the country.
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Militant groups frequently target security personnel, government infrastructure and foreign backed projects. Authorities say Chinese nationals working on regional developments have also been attacked in recent years.
Violence has intensified in the past year. In 2025, separatists attacked a passenger train carrying hundreds of people, triggering a prolonged siege that left dozens dead.
Speaking earlier this week, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said security forces had killed hundreds of fighters over the past year. “Over the past 12 months, security forces in Balochistan have sent more than 700 terrorists to hell, with around 70 terrorists eliminated in just the last two days alone,” he told reporters, adding that such attacks would not weaken the government’s resolve.