By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD - An explosive-laden vehicle being prepared by militants detonated prematurely in Balochistan's Surab district on Wednesday, triggering a major counter-terrorism operation that left 18 terrorists killed, the military's media wing said.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that the Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) exploded while being assembled by terrorists affiliated with "Fitna Al Hindustan," the official designation for Indian-backed proxy groups operating in Balochistan.

The premature blast killed eight militants instantly and injured several others.

The explosion triggered secondary detonations of additional explosives stockpiled at the militant hideout, causing the tragic deaths of three nearby civilians, according to the ISPR statement.

Security forces and Balochistan Police immediately reached the site and launched a comprehensive joint clearance operation. During the operation, forces detected fleeing militants and engaged them in an intense exchange of fire, eliminating ten more militants. In total, 18 militants have been neutralized in the incidents so far.

Two Pakistani soldiers sustained injuries during the firefight, the ISPR said.

Sanitization operations continue in the area to eliminate any remaining terrorists, the military's media wing confirmed.

The counter-terrorism campaign is being conducted under the framework of "Azm-e-Istehkam," as approved by the Federal Apex Committee under the National Action Plan. The ISPR reaffirmed that security forces and law enforcement agencies will continue their operations at "full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country."

Pakistan has designated "Fitna Al Hindustan" as the umbrella term for all terrorist groups operating in Balochistan, citing evidence that India sponsors a proxy war through these outfits. New Delhi has consistently denied these allegations.

Wednesday's operation follows an intelligence-driven operation in Panjgur district on August 10, where security forces killed five militants from the same group and recovered a cache of weapons and explosives.

Pakistan has witnessed a surge in terror activities, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provinces, since 2021. According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies, these two provinces accounted for nearly 96% of all violence-related fatalities recorded during the second quarter of 2026.

The latest operation underscores the ongoing security challenges facing Balochistan, Pakistan's largest but most resource-rich and volatile province, which shares borders with Afghanistan and Iran. The province has long been the site of multiple insurgencies, with separatist groups and militants conducting attacks against security forces, civilians, and infrastructure projects, including Chinese investments linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Pakistan's military has intensified operations across the province in recent months, targeting militant hideouts and dismantling networks suspected of receiving foreign funding and support.

Pakistan has repeatedly urged the international community to take notice of what it describes as "state-sponsored terrorism" from across its eastern border.