In a 40-hour battle in Balochistan, Pakistani security forces eliminated 145 militants following a series of coordinated gun and bomb attacks that resulted in nearly 50 deaths, as revealed by the province’s chief minister. Balochistan, a resource-rich province bordering Iran and Afghanistan, is currently experiencing one of the most severe outbreaks of violence in years, with insurgents escalating assaults on security forces, civilians, and infrastructure.
Disguised as civilians, attackers infiltrated hospitals, schools, banks, and markets on Saturday, carrying out indiscriminate shootings, according to Pakistan’s junior interior minister Talal Chaudhry. The militants utilized civilians as human 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,” targeting security forces throughout the province.
The aftermath of the attacks in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, was evident in burnt vehicles, bullet-riddled doors, and cordoned-off streets, as security forces intensified patrols and restricted movement in response to the incidents. Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti reported that the attacks resulted in the deaths of 17 law enforcement personnel and 31 civilians. The military disclosed that 92 militants were killed on Saturday, with an additional 41 killed on Friday.
The assaults took place almost simultaneously across Quetta, Gwadar, Mastung, and Noshki districts, with armed assailants targeting security installations, attempting suicide bombings, and briefly obstructing urban roads. This prompted extensive counter-operations by the army, police, and counterterrorism units. Private security guard Jamil Ahmed Mashwani recounted the attackers striking a shop shortly after midday, causing injuries.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest and least affluent province, has been grappling with a longstanding insurgency led by ethnic Baloch separatists seeking greater autonomy and resource rights. The separatist group claimed to have killed 84 security personnel and captured 18 others, although this assertion could not be independently verified. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif highlighted the targeting of civilians by militants, including women, laborers, and low-income communities.
While Pakistan’s military attributed the attacks to “Indian-sponsored militants,” India refuted these claims, accusing Pakistan of diverting attention from its internal issues. The United States condemned the violence, labeling it as terrorist acts, and expressed solidarity with Pakistan. The Balochistan Liberation Army is recognized by the U.S. as a foreign terrorist organization.
Pakistan has faced intermittent militant attacks, including those linked to the Pakistani Taliban, in various regions of the country.