ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday announced an intensified counterterrorism operation in Balochistan, saying the country’s civilian and military leadership had resolved to deploy all available resources to confront militant groups and restore security in the restive province following a recent surge in violence.
The announcement came after the PM chaired a meeting of the provincial apex committee in Quetta, attended by Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Governor Jaffar Khan Mandokhail, Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, senior military and law enforcement officials, and members of the federal cabinet.
In a statement issued on X after the meeting, PM Sharif said the federal government, military leadership and the Balochistan administration had reached a consensus on stepping up operations against militant groups.
“In consultation with Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and the Balochistan provincial government, it has been decided to intensify efforts against terrorist groups and deploy all available resources to restore peace across the province and the country,” he said.
Referring to the recent wave of attacks in Balochistan that claimed the lives of security personnel and civilians, the PM said the violence would not weaken the state’s resolve.
He pledged that military and intelligence-led operations would continue until militant groups had been dismantled and peace restored, adding that every available state resource would be mobilised to ensure lasting stability.
Sharif paid tribute to members of the armed forces, law enforcement agencies and civilians who had lost their lives in the fight against militancy, offering prayers for those killed in recent attacks and condolences to their families.
He said security forces had recently killed 54 militants in a series of operations, adding the campaign against what the government describes as “Fitna al-Khawarij” would continue until the group’s complete elimination.
The PM also alleged that militant organisations operating against Pakistan were receiving financial and military support from hostile external actors.
He specifically accused India’s support for militant groups and claimed that militants were also using Afghan territory to launch attacks inside Pakistan.
He said other foreign actors were involved but did not identify them or provide further details.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused India of backing militant networks operating inside its territory. Islamabad has also voiced concerns over militant groups allegedly operating from Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021.
PM Sharif said the country’s political and military leadership remained united in confronting terrorism and vowed that no effort would be spared to defeat militant organisations threatening national security.
He also claimed Pakistan’s adversaries were seeking to undermine what he described as the country’s growing international standing, diplomatic achievements and recent strategic successes, but said such efforts would fail.
“The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the armed forces and law enforcement agencies,” he said, expressing confidence that continued security operations would ultimately defeat terrorism.
The renewed pledge to intensify operations comes as Pakistan faces an uptick in militant attacks across several regions, with Balochistan remaining one of the country’s most volatile security frontiers.
The announcement also comes a day after major opposition parties, in a rare show of unity, sharply criticised the state’s handling of Balochistan, warning that years of violence, neglect and deepening alienation had pushed the province towards a dangerous breaking point.
In a declaration issued after an all-parties conference organised by the Balochistan chapter of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), opposition leaders called for the establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission to address decades-old grievances and end what they described as a continuing cycle of mistrust, resentment and unrest.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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