Five Pakistani troops including major killed in Balochistan operation

Five Pakistani security personnel, including an army major, were killed during a counterterrorism operation in Balochistan's Barkhan district on Wednesday, May 13. The military said security forces also killed seven militants during the engagement in the Nosham area. The Inter-Services Public Relations confirmed the operation and identified all five soldiers killed.

What happened during the Balochistan operation in Barkhan?

Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps Balochistan troops launched an intelligence-based sanitization operation in the Nosham area of Barkhan district on the morning of May 13. Security forces located and engaged a group of militants in a fierce exchange of fire. Seven militants were killed and weapons, ammunition, and explosives were recovered from the site.

Who were the five soldiers killed in the Barkhan operation?

The five personnel killed were Major Tauseef Ahmed Bhatti, 31, from 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 military said all five died fighting bravely. Clearance operations were continuing in nearby areas to eliminate any remaining militants.

Which militant group was targeted in the Balochistan operation?

ISPR said the militants were linked to what Pakistani authorities call "Fitna Al Hindustan," a term used for banned Balochistan Liberation Army militants that Pakistan says are backed by India. The BLA has been responsible for numerous attacks on security forces and civilians across Balochistan in recent years.

What is the Azm-e-Istehkam campaign and how does this operation fit into it?

The military said the operation was conducted under the Azm-e-Istehkam campaign, a broad counterterrorism drive approved by the federal apex committee under the National Action Plan. Pakistan's armed forces said operations under the campaign would continue with full force to eliminate what they described as foreign-sponsored terrorism. The campaign has been the military's primary framework for operations against militant groups across the country.