Five soldiers, including a captain-ranked officer, lost their lives on Monday when an improvised explosive device (IED) targeted security forces in the Sher Bandi area of Kech District, Balochistan.
According to the military’s media wing, the IED struck personnel while they were moving for a sanitisation operation. In a follow-up action, security forces killed five terrorists linked to the group Fitna Al Hindustan, described as “an Indian proxy.”
The fallen soldiers were identified as:
- Captain Waqar Ahmed, 25, from Loralai
- Naik Asmat Ullah, 35, from Dera Ghazi Khan
- Lance Naik Junaid Ahmed, 29, from Sukkur
- Lance Naik Khan Muhammad, 29, from Mardan
- Sepoy Muhammad Zahoor, 28, from Swabi
Militants Neutralised in KP Operations
Separately, at least 31 militants were killed during intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa between 13–14 September.
Following a tip-off about militant presence in Lakki Marwat, security forces engaged in an intense firefight, killing 14 “Indian-sponsored Khawarij.” In another IBO in Bannu District, 17 more militants were neutralised.
Rising Terror Threat
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for the Kech attack, underscoring the rising tide of terrorism. Pakistan is facing a renewed wave of violence, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Authorities warn that groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), BLA, and Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) are intensifying attacks, emboldened by external safe havens.
Officials in Peshawar estimate that nearly 8,000 militants have infiltrated from Afghanistan through the porous border, mingling with the local population, largely Afghan immigrants, and are currently active inside Pakistan.
Diplomatic Push on Afghanistan
In response, Pakistan has accelerated its diplomatic outreach. Special Representative for Afghanistan Ambassador Sadiq Khan is expected to visit Kabul in the coming days with a stern warning that Afghanistan must end facilitation of the TTP, stop providing safe havens, and halt support for groups destabilising Pakistan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also pressed Kabul to choose between bilateral relations with Pakistan or alignment with the TTP. The banned group, meanwhile, has issued a statement calling for negotiations.
No Room for Talks with TTP
Islamabad has ruled out fresh talks, stressing that previous peace efforts only gave militants space to regroup and strike again. Analysts caution that Pakistan now requires a clear and unified national response, addressing policy gaps and enhancing state-society coordination to counter the threat.
ISPR added that the sacrifice of soldiers has only deepened the resolve to eliminate terrorism, with security forces “in step with the nation” to see the fight through.
