Pakistani security forces engaged in a 40-hour battle that resulted in the elimination of 145 militants following a series of coordinated gun and bomb attacks across Balochistan, which claimed the lives of nearly 50 individuals, as reported by the province’s chief minister on Sunday. Balochistan is currently grappling with one of the most severe outbreaks of violence in recent years, with insurgents intensifying their assaults on security personnel, civilians, and infrastructure in the resource-abundant province bordering Iran and Afghanistan.
The attackers, disguised as ordinary civilians, infiltrated hospitals, schools, banks, and markets on Saturday, launching indiscriminate attacks on unsuspecting individuals, revealed Pakistan’s junior interior minister Talal Chaudhry. Chaudhry further noted that militants resorted to using civilians as human shields during the attacks.
The Baloch Liberation Army, a banned separatist group, claimed responsibility for the assaults, labeling the operation “Herof,” or “black storm,” targeting security forces throughout the province. In Quetta, the provincial capital, the aftermath of the attacks was evident through burnt-out vehicles, bullet-riddled structures, and heightened security measures, with security forces intensifying patrols and restricting movement.
Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti disclosed 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 mentioned that pre-emptive measures were initiated based on intelligence reports warning of the planned operation.
The simultaneous militant assaults were launched across Quetta, Gwadar, Mastung, and Noshki districts, targeting security installations and attempting suicide bombings while disrupting urban traffic. This led to extensive counter-operations by the army, police, and counterterrorism units to neutralize the threats.
Balochistan, being Pakistan’s largest and least developed province, has been plagued by a long-standing insurgency spearheaded by ethnic Baloch separatists striving for increased autonomy and a greater share of the region’s natural resources. The group claimed to have killed 84 security personnel and captured 18 others, although the claim could not be independently verified.
In response to the attacks, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif highlighted that militants were increasingly targeting civilians, laborers, and marginalized communities. The military emphasized that security forces successfully thwarted attempts by militants to seize control of cities or strategic installations.
Pakistan’s military attributed the attacks to “Indian-sponsored militants,” a claim refuted by India, which accused Islamabad of diverting attention from its internal issues. Meanwhile, the United States condemned the violent acts, labeling them as terrorist violence and expressing solidarity with Pakistan. The Balochistan Liberation Army has been designated a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S.
Pakistan has been confronting sporadic attacks by Islamist militants in various parts of the country, including factions associated with the Pakistani Taliban.