Pakistani forces kill 5 militants and free 23 hostages in operation in the southwest

Pakistani security forces killed five militants in an intense shootout and freed 23 hostages in the country’s restive southwest, the military said Sunday (September 20, 2026). It was unclear exactly when the abduction took place.

The militants had established an illegal checkpoint near Kalat in Balochistan province overnight into Saturday (September 19, 2026), stopping vehicles to abduct more people for ransom, extort money and seize vehicles, according to a military statement.

The statement described the killed militants as members of “Fitna al-Hindustan,” a term the Pakistani government uses for the outlawed separatist Baloch Liberation Army and other groups operating in Balochistan demanding independence and that it alleges are supported by India. New Delhi has previously denied accusations that it sponsors militancy in Pakistan.