In a swift and coordinated counter-terror operation, Pakistani security forces have killed at least 17 militants belonging to the India-backed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), known locally as Fitna al-Hindustan. The offensive targeted a militant hideout inside a cave complex in the Zehri region of Balochistan, with the operation still ongoing as forces continue clearing the area.
The military acted on precise intelligence indicating the presence of BLA fighters entrenched in mountainous terrain. Ground forces, backed by gunship helicopters, cordoned off the area and launched the assault, which has so far resulted in a significant militant death toll.
This tactical strike on the ground comes less than 24 hours after the United States officially designated the BLA and its suicide wing, the Majeed Brigade, as Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTOs), a move seen as a major diplomatic win for Pakistan. Analysts view the timing as no coincidence, reflecting intensified pressure on the BLA from both domestic and international fronts.
Security officials confirm that more than 17 militants have been neutralized so far, and operations are ongoing to eliminate any remaining elements. A significant cache of weapons, explosives, and subversive materials was recovered from the site.
The Zehri operation follows a similarly high-impact offensive in Sambaza, Zhob, where security forces eliminated 50 BLA terrorists over the course of four days, just days earlier. Combined, these operations signal a renewed crackdown on separatist militancy in Balochistan, with the state visibly escalating its resolve.
The recent U.S. terror designation of BLA and Majeed Brigade has added international legitimacy to Pakistan’s long-standing position that the group operates as a violent proxy with external support, particularly from India. The move is being credited to strategic diplomacy and intelligence coordination under Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and is being hailed as a significant milestone in Pakistan’s anti-terror efforts.
Together, the military gains in Zehri and Zhob, alongside the diplomatic success in Washington, represent one of the most severe blows dealt to the BLA in recent memory, both on the battlefield and in the global arena.
