By Our Correspondent 

QUETTA - Pakistan’s security forces have killed 197 militants in an extensive counter-terrorism campaign launched after coordinated attacks across 12 locations in Balochistan, security sources said on Wednesday.

The multi-day operation, now entering its follow-up phase, is among the largest in recent years in the restive southwestern province.

The initial attacks targeted a mix of security installations and civilian areas on Saturday, prompting an immediate, large-scale response by the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps (FC), police, and the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA).

According to security officials, militants sought to exploit difficult terrain and dispersed targets to stretch security forces. In response, authorities deployed attack and transport helicopters, intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance drones, and ground troops to track and neutralize suspects hiding in far-flung, mountainous, and sparsely populated areas.

Security sources said the campaign involved coordinated air-ground maneuvers, intelligence-led raids, and cordon-and-search operations aimed at dismantling militant cells and supply routes.

“Follow-up and sanitization operations are still ongoing to ensure no residual pockets remain,” a senior official said, adding that the focus is now on clearing hideouts, recovering weapons, and securing transit corridors.

The cost has been high. Twenty-two Pakistani security personnel --including members of the army, FC, police, and PMSA --were killed during the operations while defending civilians and infrastructure.

Officials paid tribute to the fallen, saying they “embraced shahadat in the line of duty.” The attacks also claimed the lives of 36 civilians, including women and children, most of them Baloch citizens, underscoring the toll on non-combatants.

Authorities identified the perpetrators as militants belonging to Fitna-ul-Hindustan, describing the violence as an act of “barbarity” intended to destabilize the province.

Pakistan has repeatedly alleged that militant networks operating in Balochistan maintain external linkages, including connections traced to India, claims New Delhi has consistently denied.

International reaction was swift. The United Nations Security Council condemned the attacks in the strongest terms, expressing condolences to the victims’ families and urging accountability for perpetrators, organizers, financiers, and sponsors. Several countries, including China, the United States, Türkiye, and a number of Arab states, also issued statements condemning the violence and reaffirming support for Pakistan’s efforts to combat terrorism.

Security officials said operations will continue “until all threats are neutralized,” with an emphasis on restoring normalcy, protecting civilians, and preventing future attacks.

As Pakistan steps up security measures across Balochistan, authorities say they are also pursuing diplomatic engagement to highlight cross-border concerns and Indian involvement in sponsoring terrorism in the region.