Pakistan has deployed helicopters and drones to regain control of a town in Balochistan province from rebels, as ongoing clashes have resulted in numerous deaths among security forces and civilians. The fighting centers around the mineral-rich region, where a surge in rebel attacks has prompted a large-scale security operation.
Balochistan Clashes: Security Forces Respond to Rebel Attacks
Police secured the desert town of Nushki after a three-day battle on Wednesday, with seven officers killed in the fighting. Additional troops have been deployed to the area, utilizing helicopters and drones against the militants, according to a security official.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) initiated a series of attacks across the southwestern province on Saturday, targeting banks, schools, markets, and security installations. One resident of Quetta, Robina Ali, described a powerful blast near an administrative building, stating, “I thought the roof and walls of my house were going to blow up.”
Authorities report that 197 individuals identified as terrorists have been killed in counterterrorism operations. Security restrictions, including bans on public gatherings and demonstrations, have been imposed on the province, which borders Afghanistan and Iran.
The BLA claimed responsibility for killing 280 soldiers during its “Operation Herof,” announced on Tuesday by BLA leader Bashir Zeb as a follow-up to coordinated attacks in August 2024 that left at least 74 dead. Authorities state at least 50 people were killed in those earlier coordinated attacks.
Pakistan has long faced a separatist movement in Balochistan. Recent years have seen increased violence, with armed groups citing resistance to exploitation in the resource-rich province, which contains significant deposits of coal, gold, copper, and gas.
These groups frequently target security forces and have also attacked civilians, including Chinese workers involved in projects in the area. In 2025, separatists prompted a two-day siege after attacking a train carrying hundreds of passengers.
Balochistan’s chief minister, Sarfraz Bugti, stated on Sunday that security forces had “sent more than 700 terrorists to hell” in the past 12 months, with approximately 70 eliminated in the last two days. Bugti accused the fighters of receiving support from India and Afghanistan, allegations that both countries deny.
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