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Balochistan security forces killed 21 terrorists in separate clashes in Chagai and Pishin districts, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), while six personnel, including two officers and a Customs Department official, were martyred during the operations. The encounters took place during the night between August 31 and September 1.
Major Operations in Chagai and Pishin
The latest operations were carried out in the Nokcha area of Chagai district and at Ziarat Cross in Pishin district. According to ISPR, the engagements came as militants attempted to disrupt public movement and target state institutions.
The military’s media wing said the incidents demonstrated the continuing security challenges faced by Balochistan, particularly along important transport routes and areas linked to trade and customs operations.
The operations resulted in a combined total of 21 terrorists being killed, while weapons, ammunition and explosives were recovered from the militants in at least one of the encounters.
11 Terrorists Killed Near N-40 Highway
In the first incident, militants attempted to disrupt the movement of passengers and other travellers along the N-40 Quetta-Taftan Highway in the Nokcha area.
ISPR said the militants tried to establish an illegal checkpoint reportedly intended for extortion. Security forces responded immediately, leading to an intense exchange of fire.
The confrontation ended with 11 terrorists killed, while a significant quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosive material was recovered from their possession, according to the military.
The N-40 is a strategically important route connecting Quetta with Taftan and the border region, making security along the highway particularly significant for civilian movement and trade.
Customs House Attack Repelled
In a separate incident during the same night, militants launched a coordinated assault aimed at breaching the Customs House at Ziarat Cross in Pishin district.
Security forces engaged the attackers and, following an intense exchange of fire, killed 10 terrorists, ISPR said. Militants attempting to flee the area were also pursued, resulting in further casualties among the attackers.
The military described the attack as an indication of a terror-crime nexus, saying the objective was to prevent Customs officials from carrying out their lawful responsibilities and to create conditions that would allow criminal activities to continue.
The incident underscores the security risks facing government installations responsible for regulating trade and movement along key routes in the province.
Six Personnel Martyred
Despite the successful response, the operations came at a heavy cost for the security and law-enforcement personnel involved.
ISPR said six personnel were martyred, including two officers and a government official from the Customs Department. Dawn’s reporting based on the ISPR statement described the six as five security personnel, including two officers, and one Customs official.
The casualties highlight the risks faced by personnel defending government facilities and protecting major highways from armed attacks.
Clearance Operations Continue
Following the clashes, sanitisation and clearance operations continued in surrounding areas to locate any remaining militants and prevent them from regrouping.
The operations are also intended to secure local communities and protect vital national highways, according to ISPR. Authorities are expected to maintain heightened vigilance in the affected districts as security teams search for possible accomplices and facilitators.
The latest developments come amid a broader rise in militant violence in Balochistan. A recent CRSS assessment cited found that Balochistan accounted for roughly 34% of violence-related fatalities recorded nationally during the second quarter of 2026, underscoring the province’s position as one of Pakistan’s major security hotspots.
Pakistan’s Counter-Terrorism Campaign
The military has reiterated that counter-terrorism operations will continue under the country’s broader security framework, with security forces and law-enforcement agencies maintaining pressure on militant networks.
ISPR said the campaign would continue with determination and that sanitisation operations would remain focused on eliminating remaining threats.
For Balochistan, the latest clashes underline the importance of protecting civilians, highways, customs infrastructure and other strategic installations while maintaining coordinated intelligence and law-enforcement operations.
The loss of six personnel also places renewed focus on the human cost of Pakistan’s ongoing counter-terrorism campaign, even as authorities report significant militant casualties in the latest operations.See More on Pulse Pakistan
