Two terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based operation by security forces in Balochistan’s Kalat district, Radio Pakistan quoted the military’s media affairs wing as saying on Saturday.

The counterterrorism efforts come amid heightened security concerns across the country, especially in Balochistan after a spate of terror attacks in the province claimed at least 50 lives last month.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) today, the troops surrounded and effectively engaged the terrorists’ location, recovering weapons, ammunition, and explosives from them.

The killed terrorists remained actively involved in terrorist activities against security forces and innocent civilians in the area.

A sanitisation operation was under way to neutralise any other terrorists present in the area.

“Security forces of Pakistan, in step with the nation, remain determined to thwart attempts aimed at sabotaging peace, stability and progress of Balochistan,” the ISPR said.

Last week, five terrorists were killed while three others were injured in IBOs conducted by security forces in three Balochistan districts.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appreciated the officers and personnel of the security forces for the Kalat IBO, Radio Pakistan reported.

In a statement, PM Shehbaz said the security forces showed courage and professional skills in the operation that resulted in the killing of two terrorists.

He asserted that Pakistan would continue the war against terrorism until the “complete elimination of this menace” from the country.

The premier said the entire nation was proud of the brave officers and men of the security forces who were actively participating in the fight against terrorism.

Rise in terror attacks

Pakistan experienced an increase in terrorist attacks in August as a total of 59 terrorist attacks occurred countrywide compared to 38 attacks in the previous month, according to a digital database maintained by the Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS), an Islamabad-based think-tank.

In the latest flare-up of violence, dozens of militants affiliated with the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) — a separatist outfit — launched numerous attacks on midnight of August 25 across Balochistan, targeting security personnel as well as civilians.

At least 50 people, including 14 security men, lost their lives as militants went on a rampage across the province, storming police stations, blowing up railway tracks, and setting fire to almost three dozen vehicles. In response, security forces neutralised 21 militants.

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Among those killed were 23 people in Musakhail, mostly labourers from Punjab, who were offloaded from trucks and vans and shot dead after an identity check.

Addressing a Defence Day ceremony in Rawalpindi on Friday, Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir vowed that the war against terrorism would “continue until the elimination of all terrorists”.

“To fight for the cause of Pakistan, the security forces, along with the law enforcement agencies, and the brave people of Pakistan — especially the brave people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan — have made unprecedented sacrifices,” he said.