Major among five soldiers martyred, seven Indian-backed terrorists killed in Barkhan IBO: ISPR

RAWALPINDI: Five brave sons of the soil, including a major-ranking officer, embraced martyrdom while seven terrorists belonging to Indian-backed Fitna al-Hindustan were killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the general area of Nosham in Balochistan’s Barkhan district, the military’s media wing said on Wednesday.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), troops of the Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps Balochistan launched a sanitization operation in the area on the morning of May 13, 2026, aimed at eliminating terrorists linked to Indian-backed Fitna al-Hindustan.

“During the operation, a group of terrorists was located and engaged by troops. During the fire exchange, seven terrorists of Indian-backed Fitna al-Hindustan were sent to hell,” the ISPR said in a statement.

On the morning of 13 May 2026, troops of Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps Balochistan commenced an area sanitization operation at general area Nosham of Barkhan District to eliminate terrorists of Indian backed Fitna Al Hindustan.

During the operation, a group of terrorists was…

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) May 13, 2026

The military said a cache of weapons, ammunition and explosives was also recovered from the killed terrorists.

However, during the intense exchange of fire, five personnel, including a field officer, embraced Shahadat while fighting bravely in the line of duty.

The martyrs were identified as Major Tauseef Ahmed Bhatti, 31, a resident of Pakpattan; Naik Fida Hussain, 36, from Sukkur; Sepoy Zakir Hussain, 32, from Skardu; Sepoy Suhail Ahmed, 21, from Khanewal; and Sepoy Muhammad Ayaz, 24, from Rahim Yar Khan.

The ISPR said sanitization operations in the surrounding areas were continuing to eliminate any remaining Indian-sponsored terrorists present in the region.

Reaffirming the state’s resolve against militancy, the military said the relentless counterterrorism campaign under the vision of “Azm-e-Istehkam,” approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, would continue at full pace to eradicate the menace of foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country.

The operation comes amid a fresh surge in terrorist violence, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

A day earlier, a blast in a crowded market in Sara-i-Nurang area of Lakki Marwat killed at least nine people, while last week, 15 police constables were martyred in Bannu after terrorists targeted a police checkpost with a car bomb followed by an armed ambush.

Balochistan has witnessed an escalation in terrorist attacks in recent months, especially targeting law enforcement personnel and paramilitary forces.

Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghanistan of providing sanctuary to terrorists linked to Fitna al-Hindustan — a term used for Indian-proxy groups involved in terrorism in Balochistan — and Fitna al-Khawarij, referring to the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Kabul has denied the allegations and urged Islamabad to address its internal security challenges domestically.