Quetta: Security forces killed three terrorists during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Badrang area of Awaran district, Balochistan, security sources said on Thursday.
According to the sources, the operation was conducted as part of the ongoing intelligence-based operations under Operation Rad-ul-Fitna-3, a sustained counterterrorism campaign targeting militant networks and what Pakistani authorities describe as Indian proxies.
A large quantity of weapons and ammunition was also recovered from the militants during the operation, the sources said.
The latest operation comes days after security forces killed three militants, including a militant commander identified as Naqeeb, in another intelligence-based operation in Mastung, Balochistan.
According to security sources, the militants’ vehicle was also destroyed during the operation.
Pakistan has witnessed a rise in militant violence, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since 2021, following the return of the Afghan Taliban to power in Afghanistan.
According to a report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan remained Pakistan’s main hotspots for violence during the second quarter of 2026, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recording the highest number of fatalities.
The report said the two provinces accounted for nearly 96% of all violence-related fatalities recorded nationwide during the quarter.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported 475 deaths, representing more than 61% of the total, while Balochistan recorded 265 deaths, or 34%.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also recorded the highest number of violent incidents, with 151 cases, accounting for 57% of the nationwide total. Balochistan followed with 94 incidents, representing 35%.
Security forces continue to conduct intelligence-based operations across the two provinces as part of efforts to disrupt militant networks and prevent further attacks.