Pakistan's ongoing counter-terrorism operation in Balochistan has killed 16 militants so far, state media reported Sunday, as the country grapples with a sharp rise in violence that has prompted a rare unified stance from civilian and military leadership. Main Developments Operation Al-Azm, launched after a deadly attack on a Karachi-bound coach from Quetta that killed three and injured five on Wednesday, has destroyed multiple militant hideouts and recovered weapons and explosives, according to state-run Pakistan TV. Security forces have killed 10 additional terrorists in separate operations in Mastung and Surab over 48 hours, the military said Wednesday, while also apprehending two suicide bombers and their facilitator. The government uses the term "Fitna al-Hindustan" for Balochistan-based groups to highlight alleged Indian involvement in terrorism and destabilization. Read also: Why Tank attack's explosive payload signals a troubling shift Background Earlier this month, security forces and law enforcement launched Operation Shaban in Balochistan as retaliation for a July 6 attack on a police post at the Mangi Dam pumping station in Ziarat, where armed attackers killed 27 police officers after kidnapping them. The violence follows a broader deterioration in Pakistan's security situation. A monthly assessment by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), released in early June, reported that after two months of improvement, security conditions worsened sharply in May, driven by escalating terrorist violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Balochistan recorded 71 terrorist attacks in May, a 109% increase from 34 in April, and accounted for 52 of the 54 abductions nationwide that month. Why It Matters The surge in attacks and kidnappings underscores the growing operational reach and confidence of militant groups in Balochistan, a province already grappling with separatist insurgency and resource conflicts. On July 9, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the country's civil and military leadership had taken a "mutual and singular decision" to end terrorism, following multiple major incidents. On Saturday, federal and Balochistan governments reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening security coordination and implementing a comprehensive peace strategy, declaring "no space for terrorists" in the province. The high-level meeting, co-chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti in Quetta, decided to enhance the professional capacity of the Balochistan Counter-Terrorism Force and provincial police while expediting approved reforms. What's Next Security forces will continue intelligence-based operations under Operation Al-Azm, with a focus on dismantling remaining militant hideouts and preventing further attacks. The meeting also agreed to accelerate previously approved reforms to strengthen the counter-terrorism force, though specific timelines were not disclosed.