Ten Militants Killed in CTD Operation in Balochistan's Barkhan District

Balochistan's Counter-Terrorism Department killed 10 militants in a gun battle in Barkhan district on October 10, the provincial Home Department said. Two CTD personnel were injured.

What happened in Rara Sham

The CTD moved on the Rara Sham area of Barkhan acting on credible information that militants were present there, according to the Home Department. "During an intense gun battle, 10 armed terrorists were killed and two CTD officials were injured," Home Department aide Babar Yousafzai said in a statement reported by Dawn. The militants' bodies were taken to Rara Sham district hospital, and officials said arms, ammunition and explosives were recovered from the site.

Officials identified the dead as members of Fitna al-Hindustan. The Express Tribune noted that the federal government last year officially designated all militant groups operating in Balochistan under that name, which Dawn said is meant to highlight India's alleged role in terrorism and destabilisation in Pakistan. The account of the operation comes from official statements, and no independent verification of the toll or the militants' affiliation was reported.

Official reaction

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi commended the "professional capabilities" of the CTD personnel, APP reported, and hoped the two injured personnel would recover quickly. "Balochistan CTD thwarted the nefarious designs of Fitna al-Hindustan terrorists by carrying out a timely operation," he said, according to The Express Tribune. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti paid tribute to the CTD personnel for the "successful operation" and said security forces were playing an important role in eliminating terrorism from Balochistan.

Part of a wider series of operations

The Barkhan raid follows a run of operations in the province. On October 7, security forces killed five militants described as Fitna al-Hindustan members in Mastung district, according to state media cited by Dawn. In late September, the military's media wing said more than 71 militants had been killed in Shaban and other areas over 96 hours.

Build Better Pakistan has tracked similar operations through September and October, including operations in Mashkel and South Waziristan and in Sherani and Kachhi. For the national picture, see our report on the Centre for Research and Security Studies' Q3 2026 figures. According to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, cited by Dawn, terrorist attacks in Balochistan rose from 83 in July to 89 in August.

Build Better Pakistan's Security Desk tracks counter-terrorism operations and militant violence across Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.