QUETTA: Security forces foiled an attempt by terrorists to disrupt public movement on the N-25 highway near Kalat, killing five militants and safely recovering 23 hostages, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

According to the military’s media wing, the terrorists had established a checkpoint on the highway with the intention of abducting people, extorting money and seizing vehicles.

Security forces responded promptly and killed five terrorists during the operation. A large quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosives was also recovered from the militants’ hideout, ISPR said.

Six trucks, three buses and two cars were recovered from the site following the operation.

The operation comes amid intensified security operations against militants across Balochistan under Operation Raddul Fitna 3.

Earlier, security sources said 11 India-backed terrorists had been killed in separate operations in Panjgur and Chagai districts.

Five militants were killed during an operation in the Gowargo area of Panjgur, while six were eliminated in operations in the Ameenabad and Siah Chang areas of Chagai, according to the sources.

Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the militants.

Separately, 10 labourers were injured when terrorists targeted a passenger vehicle with an improvised explosive device on College Road in Kharan, security sources said.

Security forces reached the site after the attack and shifted the injured to hospital for treatment.

The latest operations follow a series of counter-terrorism actions in Balochistan. On September 4, ISPR said security forces had killed 48 terrorists across the province during operations conducted over 72 hours.

Balochistan has remained a major hotspot of militant violence, with security forces carrying out repeated intelligence-based operations against militant groups.

Pakistan has witnessed a rise in terrorist activity, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since 2021, when the Afghan Taliban returned to power.

According to a Centre for Research and Security Studies report, KP and Balochistan accounted for nearly 96% of all violence-related fatalities recorded in Pakistan during the second quarter of 2026.

The report said KP recorded 475 deaths, accounting for more than 61% of the nationwide total, while Balochistan reported 265 deaths, or 34%.

KP also recorded the highest number of violent incidents during the quarter, with 151 cases, or 57% of the national total, followed by Balochistan with 94 incidents, accounting for 35%.