Pakistani security forces said they killed 12 militants in the southwestern district of Kharan after thwarting “coordinated attacks” on banks and a police station, in what the military described as an operation against India-sponsored terrorism.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, said 15 to 20 militants linked to the outlawed group Fitna al-Hindustan launched simultaneous attacks on January 15 targeting the City Police Station and two banks. The assailants reportedly stole around PKR 3.4 million from the two banks.
“Security forces responded swiftly and effectively, engaging the terrorists and forcing them to retreat. During clearance operations, twelve terrorists were killed in three separate engagements,” ISPR said. It added that the militants’ attempt to take hostages at the police station was successfully foiled.
Sanitization operations are ongoing in surrounding areas to eliminate any remaining threats, the military said, emphasizing its commitment to a sustained counterterrorism campaign under the “Azm-e-Istehkam” initiative, part of Pakistan’s National Action Plan. The campaign aims to eradicate militant networks allegedly supported by foreign actors.
In recent months, Pakistani authorities have increasingly used terms such as Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan to describe militants they say are influenced or backed by India, linking external involvement to domestic unrest.
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