The Pakistan Army has launched ‘Operation Shaban’, a large-scale military offensive that includes ground operations and air strikes against Baloch separatists in the Balochistan province. According to reports, Pakistani armed forces, including Army, Frontier Corps, and the Balochistan Police, have killed more than 100 separatist fighters within a week.
What is ‘Operation Shaban’?
The Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps (FC) and Balochistan Police jointly launched ‘Operation Shaban’ on July 7 after 27 police officials were killed on July 5 during an attack on a police post at Mangi dam pumping station that supplies water to Balochistan capital Quetta and surrounding areas.
Pakistani media reports, citing official sources, said more than 109 Baloch “terrorists” have been killed by the country’s armed forces since July 5, including 71 killed in Operation Shaban.
Under Operation Shaban, the Pakistani security forces have launched widescale search operations, ground operations, and air strikes across the restive province, particularly targeting Baloch separatist groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
Why Balochistan is on boil?
Balochistan has been facing unrest for over two decades, but the restive province has witnessed a surge in violence by the ethnic Baloch rebels and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) target who target Pakistani security forces in the region.
The province, Pakistan largest but least populated, is rich in natural resources such as minerals, gas, and gold, but Baloch rebels and separatist groups accuse Islamabad of exploiting Balochistan’s wealth, while the locals are left in the lurch, without any significant development.
Baloch separatist groups, including the BLA and the Baloch Liberation Front (BLF), have carried out multiple attacks targeting Chinese projects and Pakistani forces in the region, resulting in a marked escalation in violence in recent months.
Is Pakistan conducting air strikes in Balochistan?
As per reports, Operation Shaban is not limited to ground operation, but also involves air strikes and heavy bombardment of suspected hideouts of the BLA and other Baloch rebel outfits by the Pakistan Air Force.
Meanwhile, human rights groups and Baloch organizations have accused the Pakistani armed forces of killings and enforced disappearances of civilians, though Islamabad has refuted these allegation, claiming that the military operation is only directed to neutralise “terrorists”.
First published on: Jul 13, 2026 10:05 PM IST
Get Breaking News First and Latest Updates from India and around the world on News24. Follow News24 on Facebook, Twitter.
End of Article
Related Story
