23 abductees rescued, 5 terrorists killed as security forces thwart attempt to set up check post near Kalat
Security forces foiled an attempt by terrorists to establish a check post for abducting people and snatching vehicles along the Pakistan Highway near Kalat, rescuing 23 abductees and killing five terrorists, the military’s media wing said on Sunday.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operation was conducted during the night of Sept 18-19, when terrorists belonging to Fitna al Hindustan attempted to disrupt the movement of people along the Chaman-Karachi N-25 highway near Kalat.
The terrorists were allegedly trying to establish a check post for abductions for ransom, extortion and vehicle snatching, the statement said.
“Security Forces responded immediately, and after intense fire exchange, five terrorists belonging to Indian-sponsored proxy of Fitna al-Hindustan were sent to hell due to effective response by Armed Forces,” the ISPR said.
The federal government last year officially designated all terrorist groups operating in Balochistan as Fitna al-Hindustan, accusing India of sponsoring a proxy war through the outfits.
Read: Security forces kill seven terrorists in two Balochistan operations: state media
Security forces also recovered 23 abductees from the terrorists’ hideout, along with six trucks, three buses and two cars.
A large quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosives was also recovered from the hideout, according to the statement.
The ISPR said the successful operation had thwarted the “nefarious designs” of the Indian-sponsored proxy of Fitna al-Hindustan.
“Sanitisation operations are continuing in the surrounding areas to eliminate any remaining terrorists and ensure the safety and security of the local population and the vital National Highways,” it said.
The military’s media wing said the counter-terrorism campaign under the vision of “Azm-e-Istehkam”, approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, would continue “with full resolve”.
“Security Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies remain committed to eliminating the menace of foreign-sponsored and foreign-supported terrorism from the country,” the statement said.
President Asif Ali Zardari has paid tribute to security forces for thwarting an attempt by terrorists to disrupt civilian movement on the Pakistan Highway in the Kalat area of Balochistan.
The president commended the security forces for their effective action, which resulted in the elimination of terrorists affiliated with Fitna al-Hindustan. He also praised the forces for safely recovering abducted individuals from a terrorist hideout and retrieving trucks, buses and other vehicles.
“The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with its security forces in the war against terrorism,” the president said.
صدرِ مملکت آصف علی زرداری کا بلوچستان کے علاقے قلات میں دہشت گردوں کی جانب سے پاکستان ہائی وے پر شہریوں کی نقل و حرکت میں خلل ڈالنے کی کوشش ناکام بنانے پر سیکیورٹی فورسز کو خراجِ تحسین۔
صدرِ مملکت نے مؤثر کارروائی کے نتیجے میں فتنہ الہندوستان سے تعلق رکھنے والے دہشت گردوں کو…
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) September 20, 2026
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has praised security forces for their successful operation against terrorists near Kalat on the Pakistan Highway, Chaman-Karachi, N-25. He also commended the forces for conducting timely and effective action that killed five terrorists and safely recovered 23 abducted people from a terrorist hideout.
PM Shehbaz said the security forces had thwarted an attempt by the terrorists to disrupt peaceful civilian movement on the national highway, as well as their efforts to carry out kidnappings for ransom, extortion and vehicle snatching, and also praised the forces for recovering six trucks, three buses and two vehicles, along with a large quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosives from the terrorists.
He said decisive operations against terrorism would continue under the “Azm-e-Istehkam” initiative and that terrorism carried out with foreign backing and assistance would be eliminated.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has paid tribute to security forces for their successful operation against terrorists affiliated with Fitna al-Hindustan on the N-25 highway in Kalat. Naqvi praised the professional capabilities of the security forces for killing five terrorists and safely recovering 23 abducted people.
He said the forces had foiled the “nefarious designs” of the terrorists through timely action. “The security forces acted with courage and bravery and safely recovered 23 citizens,” Naqvi said.
He added that the nation stood shoulder to shoulder with the security forces in the fight against terrorism.
Read More: Security forces kill three terrorists during IBO in Balochistan’s Awaran: state media
Terrorism is a growing problem for Pakistan, with the number of attacks rising every year since 2022, according to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), a global monitoring organisation. Data from ACLED shows attacks in Pakistan rose nearly fourfold to 2,425 in 2025 from 658 in 2022.
Although Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) has borne the brunt of terrorism, Balochistan has also remained a major target of Indian proxies, which often target civilians and military installations in the province.
In one such attack on the last day of 2025, terrorists targeted innocent civilians in Balochistan’s Gwadar and Kharan districts, where 18 people, including women, children, the elderly and labourers, embraced martyrdom.
On August 21, security forces, in coordination with police, killed 49 terrorists in a series of IBOs across K-P and Balochistan over several days.
Earlier this week, security forces killed seven terrorists in Balochistan; six more were killed near Kalat.
A few days ago, security forces killed three terrorists during an IBO in the Badrang area of Awaran district, according to security sources. The operation was conducted under Operation Radd-ul-Fitna 3 against terrorists affiliated with Fitna al-Hindustan, with weapons and ammunition recovered from those killed.Read More