Deadly Clashes in Pakistan’s Balochistan Leave Hundreds Dead
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti told a news conference in Quetta that the 17 security personnel killed, including a navy troop, died during coordinated attacks by militants across 12 locations on Saturday. Another 31 civilians, including women and children, were also among the dead. Bugti noted that the militant casualties represent the highest number in a single day since Pakistan launched its “war on terror.”
The attacks occurred across multiple districts, including Quetta, Mastung, Nushki, Dalbandin, Kharan, Panjgur, Tump, Gwadar, and Pasni. The outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which has carried out repeated attacks on security forces in the mineral-rich province, has reportedly claimed responsibility.
Pakistan has witnessed a resurgence of militant violence in recent years, particularly in its western and southwestern regions. Islamabad has accused archrival India of involvement in the unrest in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a charge denied by New Delhi.
The BLA and other militant groups have long sought the “independence” of Balochistan, which accounts for roughly 42% of Pakistan’s land area. Bugti also stated that approximately 1,500 militants were killed in security operations across Balochistan last year.
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