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Pakistan's military said on Thursday that security forces conducted two intelligence-based operations in Balochistan's Washuk and Mastung districts, killing 12 terrorists in total. The operations were carried out as part of the 'Radul Fitna' counterterrorism campaign against Fitna-al-Hindustan, the military's media wing said.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the "high-tempo" operations targeted groups that have been designated as Fitna-al-Hindustan to highlight India's alleged role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan.

Coverage Comparison

The two reports from Dawn, based on official ISPR statements, present the latest operations as part of ongoing military efforts against terrorism. The first report, covering operations on August 5 and the following day, focuses on the killings in Washuk and Mastung, while the second report, published earlier, describes a broader 24-hour period in which security forces killed 32 terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, including eight in Balochistan's Nushki district.

Both articles attribute the operations to official military sources and maintain a formal, objective tone, using language consistent with military statements, including terms like "terrorists" and "India-sponsored."

Key Claims

According to the ISPR, on August 5, security forces in Washuk district engaged six terrorists belonging to "Indian proxy, Fitna-al-Hindustan," killing all six. In a separate operation in Mastung district, six more terrorists were killed after an "intense fire exchange," and a terrorist hideout was destroyed.

The military's statement said the operations were part of the 'Radul Fitna' campaign, which targets Balochistan-based groups designated as Fitna-al-Hindustan. The designation is used to highlight India's alleged role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan.

In the earlier report, the ISPR said that "comprehensive joint operations" were carried out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, resulting in 32 terrorists killed over 24 hours. In KP's Khyber district, 24 terrorists belonging to Fitna-al-Khawarij were killed during intelligence-based operations on July 28 and 29. In Balochistan's Nushki district, eight terrorists belonging to Fitna-al-Hindustan were killed after an "intense engagement." The military said weapons, ammunition and improvised explosive devices were recovered and destroyed during these operations.

The ISPR statement also said that "sanitisation operations are being conducted to eliminate any other India-sponsored terrorist found in the area," and reiterated the commitment to the 'Azm-i-Istehkam' vision, approved by the Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan, to wipe out "foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism" from the country.

The reports also note that security forces and law enforcement personnel jointly launched Operation Shaban in Balochistan in July, in retaliation for an attack on a police post at the Mangi Dam pumping station in Ziarat on July 6. Additionally, Operation Al-Azm was launched in the province after a shooting on a Karachi-bound coach from Quetta claimed three lives and injured five others.

Context

The military's statements come as Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continue to face security challenges. According to a recent assessment cited by the military, Pakistan's security situation deteriorated sharply in May, with Balochistan emerging as the most affected province, recording 71 terrorist attacks compared with 34 in April, a 109% increase. The reports also mention that of the 54 abductions reported nationwide in May, 52 occurred in Balochistan, highlighting the growing operational reach of terrorist groups in the province.