More than 71 terrorists were killed in Shaban and other areas of Balochistan in the last 96 hours, the military’s media affairs wing said on Sunday.

In a statement, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) recalled that based on credible intelligence, security forces had launched a “swift operation against the terrorists in Ziarat and surrounding areas” on Sept 21.

“As the Pakistan Army’s operation progresses, more than 71 terrorists have been killed so far in Operation Shaban and other areas of Balochistan in [the] last 96 hours, delivering a serious blow to Indian-backed Afghan proxies,” the statement said.

ISPR noted that Pakistan’s intelligence agencies had identified “multiple hideouts of Indian-sponsored Fitna al Khawarij and Fitna al Hindustan in the general area of Shaban, District Quetta, posing a threat to the local population”.

The state uses the term Fitna al Khawarij for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and refers to designated Balochistan-based groups as Fitna al Hindustan to highlight India’s role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan.

During the operation in Shaban, security forces engaged the terrorists and cleared multiple hideouts, ISPR said. Following intense exchanges of fire, 33 “Indian-sponsored terrorists” were killed, with weapons, ammunition and explosives also recovered.

Over the last 72 hours, the operation was intensified, resulting in the killing of 23 terrorists, the statement added.

“Security forces have cleared a vast area and relieved local communities of the threat posed by Fitna al Khawarij and Fitna al Hindustan. The clearance operation is continuing until complete neutralisation of the threat,” ISPR stated.

ISPR then recalled that 11 “Indian-sponsored terrorists” were killed in a separate intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Noshki on Sept 25 (Friday).

Another six “Fitna al Hindustan terrorists” were neutralised in Mand, with a large quantity of weapons and ammunition recovered, according to ISPR.

The statement highlighted that the “Afghan Taliban regime’s involvement in terrorism activities in Pakistan, backed and sponsored by India, continues to cause loss of precious lives and threaten peace and stability”.

The counter-terrorism campaign under the vision of “Azm-i-Istehkam”, approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, will continue with full resolve, ISPR declared.

“Security forces and law enforcement agencies remain committed to eliminating foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” it reaffirmed.

According to earlier ISPR statements, six terrorists had been killed during “pre-emptive” IBOs in Kech and Quetta West on Sept 22 and 23. The number of terrorists killed in the Shaban operation reached 13 on Sept 23, and then increased to 22 the next day.

Balochistan has witnessed an increase in terrorist attacks in recent weeks, prompting security forces to intensify counter-terrorism operations.

The number of terrorist attacks in the province increased by seven per cent from 83 in July to 89 in August, according to a monthly assessment by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies.