Pakistani forces kill 145 fighters in Balochistan after deadly attacks | News
In Balochistan province, Pakistan, security forces have killed at least 145 fighters during a manhunt following coordinated gun and bomb attacks that claimed nearly 50 lives. The violence erupted on Saturday across multiple locations, resulting in 31 civilian deaths—among them five women—and 17 security personnel fatalities. The attacks were attributed to the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a banned separatist group, prompting authorities to impose security restrictions, including banning public gatherings and face coverings.
Provincial Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti reported that the response to the attacks was swift, with troops and police engaging the assailants and recording one of the highest numbers of fighters killed in recent history. Bugti suggested that some of the deceased fighters were Afghan nationals and accused them of being part of a larger scheme supported by India, a claim that both New Delhi and Kabul have firmly denied as “baseless allegations.”
Bugti noted that intelligence reports had indicated an operation was in the works, facilitating preemptive responses just before the attacks. The military claimed that 92 fighters were killed on Saturday and 41 on Friday, emphasizing the strategic nature of the counteroffensive.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s poorest province, has long been a battleground for ethnic Baloch seeking greater autonomy and resource distribution. The BLA has historically targeted security forces and civilians, including foreign nationals working on various development projects.
The assaults on Saturday, described as an “audacious operation,” were executed simultaneously at multiple locations including Quetta, Gwadar, Mastung, and Noshki. Armed men targeted security installations, attempted suicide bombings, and disrupted urban areas by temporarily blocking roads. Survivors recounted the chaos, with some describing how attackers struck while dressed as civilians, blending into public life before opening fire indiscriminately.
In response to the escalating violence, security forces implemented tightened patrols and movement restrictions, leading to shuttered businesses and heightened civilian fears of further assaults. The Pakistan junior interior minister, Talal Chaudhry, detailed that attackers used civilian disguises and often targeted ordinary people in everyday settings like shops, schools, and banks, even employing human shields during confrontations.
Minister of Defence Khawaja Asif stated that some attacks involved female fighters, indicating a troubling trend toward targeting civilians and vulnerable populations more openly. The United States condemned the violence, affirming its support for Pakistan in the fight against terrorism, reiterating the designation of BLA as a foreign terrorist group.
Despite the ongoing violence in Balochistan, Pakistan faces threats from various armed groups nationwide, including factions tied to the Pakistan Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The cyclical nature of violence within the region underscores the complexity and challenges of governance in Balochistan, as local grievances over economic marginalization fuel separatist sentiments and militant activity.
