What happened
Security forces in Balochistan killed a terrorist commander during an intelligence-based operation in Qila Saifullah, according to a state media report published by Dawn. The individual was identified as Adil Shah, also known as Darvesh, a member of Fitna al Khawarij—the designation official state sources use for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.
Key facts
According to security sources cited in the report, Shah was involved in several militant activities prior to his death:
- He joined Fitna al Khawarij in December 2020 and managed the group's financial operations starting in 2024.
- He facilitated permanent housing arrangements for foreign terrorists in Shaban, Sherani, and Zhob.
- He was involved in kidnappings for ransom and direct attacks against security personnel beginning in 2022.
- He was named in 19 first information reports, and government authorities had placed a Rs2.5 million bounty on him.
The action was executed under "Operation Radd-ul-Fitna-3." Security personnel stated that counterterrorism operations in the province will continue until all militants are eliminated.
Why it matters
The operation follows a series of recent engagements across Balochistan. According to Dawn, an army major and four militants died in operations on October 19, following an October 18 operation where eight militants were killed in Quetta, Nushki, and Khuzdar. Multiple other raids in September and October resulted in dozens of militant casualties in areas including Barkhan, Washuk, Awaran, and Mastung.
Data from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) shows that national terrorist incidents rose by 13.1 percent last month to 225 attacks, reaching a 12-year high. Fatalities increased by 64 percent to 259, while injuries reached 242. Balochistan was the most impacted region, recording 131 attacks, which represented 58.2 percent of the national total.
Addressing the security situation, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir recently stated that military campaigns against Indian-sponsored terrorist groups will continue aggressively across the country.
Source: Dawn - Home · Published October 25, 2026 · Photo by Bao Menglong on Unsplash