Pakistan’s security forces killed at least three more terrorists during a sanitisation operation in the Sambaza area along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border on the night of August 10–11, the military’s media wing said on Tuesday.
According to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the slain militants were found in possession of weapons, ammunition, and explosives. The action comes as part of a broader series of anti-infiltration and border-security operations in the region.
Over the past four days, security forces have intercepted multiple infiltration attempts, killing at least 50 terrorists in total.
“Security forces remain committed to securing the nation’s frontiers and preventing attempts to destabilise Pakistan,” the ISPR stated.
US Designates BLA and Majeed Brigade as Terrorist Groups
The operation follows a major diplomatic development on August 11, when the United States formally designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its suicide unit, the Majeed Brigade, as Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTOs). Islamabad hailed the move as a boost to Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts.
Pakistani officials say they have credible evidence of coordination between the BLA’s Majeed Brigade and the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The latest report of the UN Security Council also affirms that the two groups maintain “close coordination” in their activities, citing recent complex attacks in 2025 as evidence of operational synchronisation.
Cross-Border Militancy and Economic Stakes
The TTP and its affiliates fled into Afghanistan following Operation Zarb-e-Azb in 2014, using sanctuaries there as launch pads for attacks inside Pakistan.
Balochistan, home to key projects under the multi-billion-dollar China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), has frequently been targeted by insurgents aiming to disrupt infrastructure and development efforts tied to Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Security officials say recent operations aim to neutralise these threats, protect national stability, and secure vital economic corridors.
