In the province of Balochistan, Pakistan, more than 60 people were killed in a series of attacks by separatist militants targeting police stations, railway lines, and highways. Security forces responded with retaliatory operations, resulting in the deaths of several militants. The attacks, the most widespread in years, were part of a decades-long insurgency by ethnic militants seeking secession of the resource-rich province, which is home to major projects led by China.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi described the attacks as a deliberate attempt to create anarchy in Pakistan. Security forces managed to kill 12 militants in operations following the attacks that occurred on Sunday and Monday. The Pakistan military reported that 14 soldiers and police, along with 21 militants, were killed in fighting after the largest attack which targeted buses and trucks on a major highway. However, it was unclear whether this figure included the 12 militants confirmed dead by the interior ministry.
In the highway attacks, armed men stopped vehicles to check passengers’ IDs before shooting many of them and setting vehicles on fire. As a result, at least 23 people were killed in these incidents. Rail traffic towards Quetta was suspended after blasts on a rail bridge linking the provincial capital to the rest of Pakistan. Another rail link to Iran was also targeted by militants. In yet another attack, six unidentified bodies were found near the location of the railway bridge attack.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), an armed militant group, claimed responsibility for the attacks, which they named “Haruf” or “dark windy storm”. The BLA accused the central government of unfairly exploiting the mineral resources of the province, resulting in high levels of poverty amongst the local population. They have demanded the expulsion of China and independence for Balochistan. The BLA stated that four suicide bombers, including a woman from the port district of Gwadar, were involved in an attack on a major paramilitary base, although this has not been confirmed by Pakistani authorities.
The BLA is one of several ethnic insurgent groups in Balochistan fighting against the central government. These groups believe that the government unfairly uses the province’s gas and mineral resources, leading to economic disparities. They seek independence from Pakistan and the removal of foreign entities like China. The attacks occurred on the anniversary of the death of Baloch nationalist leader Akbar Bugti, who was killed by Pakistani security forces in 2006. The attacks and retaliatory operations have further heightened tensions in Balochistan, with fears of escalating violence and instability in the region.
