Pakistani security forces successfully neutralized 145 militants during a 40-hour intense battle amidst a wave of coordinated gun and bomb assaults in various areas of Balochistan, resulting in nearly 50 casualties, as reported by the region’s chief minister on Sunday. The southwestern province is currently grappling with one of the most severe outbreaks of violence in recent years, with insurgents escalating attacks on security forces, civilians, and essential infrastructure in the resource-rich region bordering Iran and Afghanistan.
The attackers, disguised as ordinary citizens, infiltrated hospitals, schools, banks, and markets on Saturday, engaging in indiscriminate gunfire targeting civilians, informed Pakistan’s junior interior minister Talal Chaudhry. Chaudhry further mentioned that the militants exploited civilians as shields during the attacks.
The Baloch Liberation Army, a banned separatist group, claimed responsibility for the assaults, citing a coordinated operation named Herof, or “black storm,” aimed at security forces across Balochistan. In Quetta, the provincial capital, the aftermath of the attacks was evident through burnt vehicles at a police station, doors riddled with bullets, and cordoned-off streets, with security forces intensifying patrols and implementing movement restrictions post the incidents.
Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti shared that a total of 17 law enforcement personnel and 31 civilians lost their lives in the militant attacks. The military reported the elimination of 92 militants on Saturday and 41 on Friday. Bugti noted that preemptive measures were initiated based on intelligence reports anticipating such operations.
According to Bugti, the recent toll marks the highest number of militant casualties in a condensed timeframe since the insurgency escalated, although comparative figures were not disclosed. The coordinated assaults were launched nearly simultaneously in districts including Quetta, Gwadar, Mastung, and Noshki, with armed assailants targeting security installations, attempting suicide bombings, and disrupting urban traffic flow. Subsequently, extensive counter-operations were conducted by the army, police, and counterterrorism units.
Reflecting on the province’s challenges, Balochistan, known as Pakistan’s largest and economically disadvantaged region, has grappled with a prolonged insurgency led by ethnic Baloch separatists striving for greater autonomy and resource rights. The Baloch Liberation Army claimed to have killed 84 security personnel and captured 18 others, although independent verification of these claims was unavailable.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif highlighted that female perpetrators were involved in two of the attacks, emphasizing militants’ increasing focus on targeting civilians, laborers, and marginalized communities. The military assured that security forces effectively thwarted any attempts by militants to seize control of cities or strategic installations.
In response to the attacks, Pakistan’s military attributed them to “Indian-sponsored militants.” However, India refuted these allegations, accusing Pakistan of diverting attention from its internal issues. The United States condemned the violence, denouncing it as acts of terrorism and affirming solidarity with Pakistan. The Balochistan Liberation Army holds a designation as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S.
Pakistan has encountered sporadic assaults by Islamist militants in various regions, including factions affiliated with the Pakistani Taliban.