At least 48 people were killed in Pakistan’s Balochistan province after separatist militants launched a large-scale assault on Saturday, targeting military installations, police stations, and banks. The attacks, which included suicide bombings in Quetta and Gwadar, have prompted a security crackdown resulting in the reported deaths of 145 militants, according to officials.
Balochistan Militant Attacks
Chief Minister of Balochistan, Sarfraz Bugti, stated that 145 militants were killed in the 40 hours following the initial attacks, and their bodies are currently in the custody of authorities. The assaults began before dawn on Saturday, with insurgents attacking various locations, including blocking main roads and destroying railway tracks.
The Balochistan separatist insurgency has been ongoing for decades, but has recently gained momentum with attacks targeting both security forces and civilians. Analysts described Saturday’s simultaneous attacks in more than 10 cities as unprecedented.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited Quetta on Saturday with Bugti to express condolences to the families of those killed. Naqvi accused India of supporting the terrorists and attacks, a claim that Delhi has denied.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for the attacks, stating in a statement that they killed 84 security personnel and took 18 security and civilian officials prisoner. These claims have not been independently verified.
Residents of Khuzdar district reported that the BLA had captured seven members of the security forces. Pakistan’s military has not yet commented on the situation.
Videos shared on social media, including by the BLA, show insurgents freely moving through Quetta, firing rocket launchers at a bank, torching police stations, and standing on roadsides. Footage confirmed by local officials shows a car detonating in Quetta’s red zone, killing police personnel, including a deputy superintendent.
In Mastung, insurgents attacked a prison and freed almost 30 prisoners, according to police. In Gwadar, insurgents attempted to breach the perimeter security of the deep-sea port but were unsuccessful. A resident reported hearing a large blast and continued firing near the port.
Five militants were killed in Pasni, Gwadar district, when they entered the headquarters of Pakistan’s coastguard after a suicide bomber detonated at the gate. One maritime security official was also reportedly killed.
Mobile internet services have been suspended in several cities, including Quetta, Gwadar, and Noshki. Residents of Noshki reported that attacks were still ongoing, targeting the offices of counterterrorism police and other government agencies.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told local media that calm had been restored in Balochistan and that security forces were conducting “mopping-up operations.”
Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghanistan of providing safe havens for Baloch insurgents, Pakistani Taliban, and other militant groups, alleging they use Afghan soil to launch attacks. Kabul has denied these claims.
Recent statements from central and provincial government officials suggested that the insurgency in Balochistan had been contained. However, security analyst Zahid Hussain stated that Saturday’s attacks negate those claims.
Hussain noted the lack of a political apparatus in the province, with the military making all decisions, which he believes has worsened the situation. He also emphasized the insurgents’ strong local support base and the presence of safe sanctuaries in Afghanistan as key factors contributing to the attacks.
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