At least seven militants belonging to the India-backed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), officially declared by the state as Fitna al-Hindustan and designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) by the United States, were killed while 10 others were injured in an ongoing operation in the Zehri area of Khuzdar district, security sources confirmed on Tuesday.

The operation was launched after credible intelligence indicated the presence of militants in the mountainous belt near Zehri, where the group had been intimidating locals and plotting sabotage. Ground troops, supported by helicopter gunships, were deployed to clear the area.

Recovered items from the slain fighters included prepared improvised explosive devices (IEDs), transmitters, U.S.-made automatic weapons, grenades, ammunition, and motorcycles.

Officials said a major tragedy was also averted when a large IED planted on the main bridge of Badokasht was successfully defused.

According to them, the militants were acting on directives from India to carry out terror attacks across Balochistan. They reiterated that operations will continue until Fitna al-Hindustan is eliminated.

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Earlier in the day, a suicide bomber targeted the Frontier Corps (FC) Balochistan headquarters on Zarghooni Road in Quetta, martyring several FC personnel and injuring others. Security forces responded swiftly, killing five terrorists in the exchange of fire and preventing further casualties.

The latest developments follow a major clearance operation conducted on September 27 in Zehri, Khuzdar district. During that action, Pakistani special forces and paramilitary units killed 13 militants and dismantled key hideouts of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Baloch Liberation Front (BLF).

The joint operation, led by the Special Services Group (SSG), Frontier Corps (FC), and Levies, employed drone surveillance and coordinated raids across a 13-kilometre stretch.

One soldier embraced martyrdom and two others sustained injuries during the mission, which security officials said dealt a significant blow to militant networks threatening Balochistan's stability.

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