23 abductees rescued, five terrorists killed near Kalat

Security forces have rescued 23 people and killed five terrorists during an operation near Kalat after militants attempted to establish a makeshift check post along the N-25 national highway.

According to the military’s media wing, the operation was carried out during the night between September 18 and 19 after terrorists tried to disrupt traffic on the Chaman-Karachi route.

The militants were allegedly preparing to stop vehicles, abduct passengers for ransom and carry out extortion and vehicle theft in the area.

Security forces responded to the threat and engaged the terrorists in an intense exchange of fire. Five militants were killed during the operation, while 23 abducted people were recovered from a terrorist hideout.

The forces also recovered six trucks, three buses and two cars from the hideout. A significant quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosives was seized during the operation.

Following the action, security personnel launched sanitisation operations in surrounding areas to search for any remaining militants and protect local residents and traffic along the national highway.

The military said counter-terrorism operations would continue as part of the government’s broader security strategy. It also reiterated the commitment of security and law-enforcement agencies to tackling terrorism and protecting the public.

Pakistan has witnessed a rise in militant violence in recent years, with Balochistan remaining one of the key areas affected by attacks. Security forces have continued conducting intelligence-based operations in the province and other parts of the country against militant groups.