Balochistan: Pakistan Army Shaken As Casualties In Baloch Attacks Rise Over 250
Shocking news of bloodshed has emerged from Pakistan's southwestern province of Balochistan. More than 250 people have been killed in attacks by insurgents.
Quetta: Shocking news of bloodshed has emerged from Pakistan's southwestern province of Balochistan. More than 250 people have been killed in a series of attacks by insurgents since last Saturday, followed by retaliatory actions by security forces. A senior security official said on Wednesday that the death toll from the violence, which began on Saturday, has risen sharply.
The official claimed that 197 'terrorists' have been killed in the retaliatory military operation. At least 36 civilians have also lost their lives in these attacks. According to the Pakistani official, 22 security personnel were martyred while defending the country.
What has the BLA claimed?
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) insurgent group has claimed responsibility for the attacks. The insurgents launched coordinated attacks on multiple targets across the province. They stormed banks, prisons, and police stations. Gun and suicide attacks were carried out on military installations and civilian administration officials. Armed fighters blocked roads and targeted migrant workers (non-locals).
Why is the Pakistan Army shaken?
The large-scale attacks in Balochistan have shaken all of Pakistan. In late January, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) launched coordinated attacks in several districts of Balochistan province under the second phase of Operation Heroof. The attacks began on January 31 and spread to several cities including Quetta, Gwadar, Mastung, and Nushki. According to reports, attacks were carried out simultaneously at 12 to 48 different locations, including suicide bombings and gun attacks. The BLA claimed responsibility and said they killed more than 200 personnel of the Pakistani army, police, intelligence agencies, and counter-terrorism units, and took 18 hostage. They described it as a decisive action against the occupying forces. Government and Security Forces' Response
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said during a press conference in Quetta that the affected districts had been cleared of "terrorists," but the army's operation to eliminate the militants was still underway. He stated emphatically, "We are pursuing them and will not let them get away so easily."
What is the main reason behind the attacks?
Balochistan has been grappling with a separatist insurgency for decades. Organizations like the BLA oppose external interference and the exploitation of resources in this mineral-rich region. In recent years, they have intensified attacks on laborers and workers from other provinces, and targeted foreign energy companies and Chinese investment projects. Last year, they attacked a train carrying 450 passengers, which led to two days of bloody clashes. The United Nations (UN) strongly condemned these attacks, calling them heinous and cowardly. The United States has also already designated the BLA as a terrorist organization.
