Balochistan blast and operation kill 18 terrorists, three civilians in Pakistan

A premature blast in Surab killed militants preparing an explosives-laden vehicle and triggered a joint security operation. The back-to-back incidents underline Pakistan's continuing counter-terror push in restive Balochistan.Image used for representational purposes onlyTwenty-one people, including 18 terrorists, were killed in two linked incidents in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province after an explosives-laden vehicle detonated prematurely and security forces later carried out an operation in the area, the army said on Wednesday. Three civilians living nearby were also killed, while two soldiers were injured during the subsequent exchange of fire.According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the military, the first blast took place in Surab district when Baloch militants were preparing the vehicle. Security forces and the Balochistan Police then launched a joint clearance operation, during which 10 more fleeing terrorists were killed.In a statement, the ISPR said, "The premature detonation during preparation resulted in the confirmed killing of eight terrorists with multiple injuries." It said the blast, along with the secondary detonation of other explosives stored at the site, also caused the deaths of three nearby civilians.The army said security forces and the Balochistan Police reached the site immediately after the explosion and began a comprehensive joint clearance operation to trace the perpetrators and facilitators. During the operation, security forces detected the movement of fleeing terrorists and "effectively" engaged them, killing 10 more. In all, 18 terrorists were killed in the incidents, while two soldiers were injured in the heavy exchange of fire, it said. The ISPR said sanitisation operations were continuing in the area to eliminate any remaining terrorists. It added, "The relentless counter-terrorism campaign by the security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country." According to state-run Radio Pakistan, 20 terrorists were killed over two days on Sunday and Monday in the province. Security operations in Balochistan began after the July 6 attack on a police check post at the Mangi Dam pumping station in Ziarat, where armed attackers kidnapped and killed 27 policemen.With PTI Inputs - EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Aug 12, 2026 22:16 IST