Pakistan's military announced Monday that four terrorists were killed in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Jattakabad, Kalat district, on October 18 — and that a serving army major was martyred in an IED attack during clearance operations in the province.
The announcement came from the military's media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). It said the operations were launched on reports of multiple terrorist hideouts of what the state designates as "Fitna al Hindustan" — Islamabad's term for Balochistan-based militant groups it links to Indian sponsorship.
Four Terrorists Killed in Jattakabad, Kalat
ISPR said security forces acted on reports of multiple Fitna al Hindustan hideouts in Jattakabad, Kalat district, on October 18, engaging the terrorists' location and killing four of them.
The military said a large cache of arms and ammunition was also recovered. ISPR added that "sanitisation operations will continue to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area," signalling that clearance work in the district is not yet over.
Major Wajahat Waheed Martyred in Gwadar IED Blast
The same statement said Major Wajahat Waheed, 34, a resident of Lahore, was martyred in an IED attack while leading the lead force component during clearance operations in Shadi Kaur, Pasni tehsil, Gwadar district.
Dawn, Geo TV and Dunya News carried the ISPR announcement. The military's statement framed the loss as part of what it called a "relentless counter-terrorism campaign under the vision of Azm-e-Istehkam, as approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan," adding that the campaign "will continue at full pace."
ISPR further said: "Security forces and law enforcement agencies remain committed to eliminating the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country."
What "Fitna al Hindustan" Means
The phrase "Fitna al Hindustan" is the state's designation for Balochistan-based militant groups — a term Islamabad says highlights India's role in terrorism and destabilisation in the province.
That framing sits inside the military's wider narrative of "foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism." We keep it attributed: the Indian-sponsorship claim comes from the state, and it has not been independently adjudicated in these reports.
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A Week of Heavy Operations
October 18 was not an isolated day. Just a day earlier, eight terrorists described by the state as "India-sponsored" were killed in IBOs across Quetta, Nushki and Khuzdar. And on the night of October 12 and 13, five terrorists were killed in an IBO in Washuk.
The tempo reflects a deteriorating security picture. PICSS reported that attacks in Balochistan rose 7 percent — from 83 in July to 89 in August — making the province the country's "most affected" by terrorism. Geo TV reported that Pakistan suffered its highest monthly militant attacks in 12 years during September 2026: 225 attacks against 199 in August, a 13 percent rise and the third consecutive monthly increase.
Why It Matters
This story matters on three levels. First, the human one: a 34-year-old officer from Lahore is dead, and four more lives ended in Kalat. Second, the strategic one: Balochistan hosts the Gwadar port, the crown jewel of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and persistent militancy there threatens multibillion-dollar infrastructure and foreign investment.
Third, the political one: Islamabad's "Fitna al Hindustan" framing ties the violence to its rivalry with New Delhi, at a time when Pakistan-India tensions are already running hot. How these operations are framed will shape the diplomatic temperature as much as the battlefield facts.
What Happens Next
ISPR has promised that sanitisation operations will continue in the area, so further encounters around Kalat would not be surprising. Clearance operations in Gwadar's Pasni tehsil are also likely to continue after the IED attack that killed Major Waheed.
Watch, too, for the next PICSS monthly tally. If September's record 225 attacks are followed by another rise in October, pressure will grow on the government to show the Azm-e-Istehkam campaign is bending the curve.
Key Takeaways
- Four terrorists were killed in an October 18 IBO in Jattakabad, Kalat district, ISPR said; a large cache of arms and ammunition was recovered.
- Major Wajahat Waheed, 34, of Lahore, was martyred in an IED attack while leading the lead force component during clearance operations in Shadi Kaur, Pasni tehsil, Gwadar.
- The operations targeted hideouts of groups the state designates "Fitna al Hindustan," a term Islamabad links to alleged Indian sponsorship.
- ISPR vowed the counter-terrorism campaign under Azm-e-Istehkam will continue "at full pace."
- Balochistan attacks rose 7 percent from July to August; Pakistan recorded its highest monthly militant attacks in 12 years in September 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Major Wajahat Waheed?
Major Wajahat Waheed was a 34-year-old Pakistan Army officer from Lahore. ISPR said he was martyred in an IED attack while leading the lead force component during clearance operations in Shadi Kaur, Pasni tehsil, Gwadar district. His death was announced with the Jattakabad operation's results.
Where and when did the Jattakabad operation take place?
The IBO took place in Jattakabad, Kalat district, on October 18. ISPR said troops acted on reports of multiple Fitna al Hindustan hideouts, killed four terrorists, and recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition. Sanitisation operations, the military said, will continue in the area.
What does "Fitna al Hindustan" mean?
It is the Pakistani state's designation for Balochistan-based militant groups, used to highlight what Islamabad describes as India's role in terrorism and destabilisation in the province. We report it as an attributed state claim — not an independently verified fact — per our editorial policy.
What is Azm-e-Istehkam?
Azm-e-Istehkam is the state's stated vision for its counter-terrorism campaign, approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan. ISPR said the "relentless counter-terrorism campaign under the vision of Azm-e-Istehkam" will continue at full pace against what it calls foreign-sponsored terrorism.
How bad is the terrorism situation in Balochistan right now?
Bad and worsening. PICSS reported provincial attacks rose 7 percent, from 83 in July to 89 in August, calling Balochistan the country's "most affected" province. Geo TV reported September 2026 saw Pakistan's highest monthly militant attacks in 12 years: 225 attacks against 199 in August.
Sources
- Dawn — Army major martyred, four terrorists killed in Balochistan operations: ISPR (published 19 October 2026, 07:45 PKT; updated 07:57)
- Geo TV — Army major martyred, four terrorists killed in Balochistan operations: ISPR
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