Security forces in Balochistan faced a tough day of operations that left one brave officer martyred while successfully neutralizing several militants. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, troops carried out targeted actions in two different areas on Sunday following intelligence about terrorist presence.
In the first action, security forces launched an intelligence-based operation in the Jattakabad area of Kalat district. They effectively struck a militant hideout and killed four terrorists. A significant quantity of weapons and ammunition was recovered during the raid. The ISPR described these militants as India-sponsored elements operating in the region.
Separately, clearance operations began in the Shadi Kaur area of Gwadar. During this effort, a security forces convoy came under attack from an improvised explosive device. The blast resulted in the martyrdom of Major Wajahat Waheed, aged 37 and a resident of Lahore. The officer was serving with distinction when the IED struck the contingent.
The military’s media wing confirmed that clearance operations in the Gwadar area will continue until the remaining militants are fully eliminated. This latest incident forms part of a wider pattern of violence that has intensified in both Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan in recent years.
Since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in 2021, Pakistan has recorded a sharp rise in cross-border terrorist incidents. Data from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies shows that September 2026 saw the highest monthly number of militant attacks in twelve years. A total of 225 attacks were recorded that month, up 13 percent from 199 in August, marking the third consecutive month of increase.
Islamabad has repeatedly called on the Afghan authorities to stop the use of their territory by groups launching attacks inside Pakistan. Officials maintain that the Taliban regime has not taken effective steps against these networks. Despite several rounds of talks, the issue of militant groups operating from Afghan soil remains a major point of disagreement between the two sides.
The sacrifice of Major Wajahat Waheed highlights the ongoing risks faced by security personnel in clearing terrorist hideouts across Balochistan. Forces remain determined to eliminate remaining threats through sustained operations in the affected areas.
