Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan plunged into chaos on Saturday after a wave of well-planned militant assaults hit several districts at the same time, leaving heavy casualties among both security forces and armed attackers.
According to official statements, at least 10 members of Pakistan’s security forces lost their lives during the violence, while 37 militants were killed in counter-operations launched by the army and other agencies. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed the figures and said security forces acted swiftly to prevent the situation from spiralling further out of control.
“These attacks were answered with full force, and the militants involved were neutralised,” Naqvi said, adding that operations were still underway in sensitive areas.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a banned separatist outfit, later took responsibility for the attacks. In a statement circulated online, the group claimed the violence was part of a fresh offensive it described as the next stage of a larger campaign. The organisation said it carried out multiple strikes at the same time to stretch security forces and disrupt administration across the province.
Eyewitness accounts and social media footage painted a grim picture. Armed men were seen moving through residential areas, setting vehicles on fire and firing weapons near crowded locations. Panic spread quickly as shopkeepers shut down markets and families rushed indoors to avoid being caught in the crossfire.
In Quetta, the provincial capital, the situation was described by local residents as “extremely tense.” Authorities reportedly placed hospitals on emergency alert as gunshots and explosions echoed through several neighbourhoods, including areas close to government and security installations.
On one major road in the city, attackers allegedly ambushed a police patrol, killing two officers and torching their vehicle. Separate reports spoke of firing near the railway station, while damaged security vehicles were seen in circulating images.
Violence was not limited to Quetta. Clashes and explosions were reported from a wide range of districts, including Nushki, Kalat, Mastung, Gwadar, Pasni, Kharan and other towns. Residents in these regions spoke of sudden road blockades, intermittent gunfire and attacks on police and military targets.
The BLA, in its statement, claimed its fighters managed to temporarily pin down security forces and overrun parts of certain camps. It also alleged that suicide-style assault units were used at selected locations. Pakistani authorities have neither confirmed nor accepted these claims, stating that the situation remains fluid and clearance operations are ongoing.
