An officer in the Pakistani military was killed and four terrorists were eliminated during intelligence-based counterterrorism operations in Balochistan, according to a report by Dawn citing the military's media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

What happened

Security forces carried out operations targeting hideouts of a group designated by the state as Fitna al Hindustan in Jattakabad within Kalat district, as well as Shadi Kaur and Pasni within Gwadar district. On October 18, security forces killed four terrorists in Jattakabad and seized a large cache of weapons and ammunition. During a subsequent clearance operation in Gwadar, 34-year-old Major Wajahat Waheed, a resident of Lahore who was leading the operation, died in an improvised explosive device (IED) attack.

Key facts

  • ISPR confirmed that sanitisation efforts will continue to eliminate any remaining threats in the area.
  • The counterterrorism actions fall under the "Azm-e-Istehkam" vision, which was approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan.
  • President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued individual statements commending the operations, paying tribute to Major Waheed, offering condolences to his family, and pledging to counter foreign-sponsored terrorism.

Why it matters

The military engagement reflects an ongoing surge in violence in the region. According to Dawn, data from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) showed a 7 percent rise in terrorist attacks in Balochistan, increasing from 83 incidents in July to 89 in August, designating it as the country's most affected province.

Dawn reported that security forces have intensified counterterrorism measures in response. Recent actions in Balochistan include the deaths of eight terrorists in Quetta, Nushki, and Khuzdar a day prior, five terrorists in Washuk on October 12–13, and five in Mastung earlier in the month. Furthermore, provincial officials recently confirmed the arrests of approximately 90 suspected terrorists across the region.

📰 Read the Original Report

Source: Dawn - Home · Published October 19, 2026 · Photo by Mufid Majnun on Unsplash