Islamabad, 7 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Security forces have killed 18 India-backed terrorists in multiple operations conducted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, security sources said on Wednesday. According to the sources, the operations were carried out against Fitna al-Khawarij in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under the Azm-e-Istehkam vision and against Fitna al-Hindustan in Balochistan. Security forces targeted militant hideouts in North Waziristan and adjoining areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing 13 militants, while a separate operation in Mastung resulted in the killing of five militants. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the militants during the operations, the sources said. Following the operations, security forces launched clearance activities in the affected areas to eliminate any remaining militants. Pakistan has witnessed a significant increase in cross-border terrorist incidents, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in 2021. According to data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, 225 militant attacks were recorded across Pakistan in September 2026, compared with 199 in August, marking a 13 percent increase and the third consecutive monthly rise. Pakistan has repeatedly called on the Afghan authorities to prevent their territory from being used by militant organisations for attacks inside Pakistan. Islamabad maintains that the Afghan Taliban authorities have failed to take effective action against groups involved in attacks on Pakistani security forces and civilians. Despite several rounds of talks, Pakistan and Afghanistan have yet to resolve their differences, with the presence and activities of militant groups on Afghan soil remaining a major point of contention between the two countries.