Balochistan authorities report ten militants killed in Barkhan operation

Pakistan’s Counter-Terrorism Department conducted a raid in Barkhan district. Authorities said ten suspected militants were killed and two department personnel were wounded.

Home Department aide Babar Yousafzai said on October 10 that the operation followed intelligence about an armed group in the area. He described an intense exchange of gunfire as CTD personnel approached.

Officials reported recovering weapons, ammunition and explosives. The wounded personnel were taken to hospital, while the bodies were transferred to Rara Sham district hospital. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti praised the department’s operation.

Pakistani authorities identified the group as Fitna al-Hindustan and accused India of supporting armed organisations operating in Balochistan. That designation represents Pakistan’s position, and the account of the raid does not itself establish foreign involvement.

The operation followed several other raids. State media reported five militants killed in Mastung on October 7. Late in September, the military reported more than 71 deaths during 96 hours of operations in Shaban and other parts of the province.

Authorities also reported three militants killed in Badrang, Awaran district, on September 17, another three in Mastung on September 14, and 21 in separate encounters in Nokcha, Chagai, Ziarat Cross and Pishin earlier that month.

PICSS recorded an increase in attacks in Balochistan from 83 in July to 89 in August, approximately seven percent. It described the province as the worst affected by terrorism. Those figures cover the summer period rather than the October operation.