Deadliest Violence in Years Rocks Pakistan’s Balochistan
Quetta: Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province witnessed one of its deadliest waves of violence in recent years after coordinated militant attacks killed over 190 people, including civilians, security personnel and militants. According to official figures cited by Reuters, at least 31 civilians, 17 security forces personnel and 145 militants died in Saturday’s violence. The scale of the attacks prompted Islamabad to vow swift retaliation, while security agencies launched a massive hunt for those involved.
Coordinated Attacks Trigger Lockdown-Like Conditions
The attacks targeted nearly a dozen locations across Balochistan, including the provincial capital Quetta. Militants stormed banks, jails and military installations, officials told AFP. As a result, authorities sealed off affected areas and imposed sweeping security restrictions. Mobile internet services across the province have remained suspended for over 24 hours. Additionally, road traffic stands disrupted and train services have been halted. On Sunday, Quetta appeared deserted, with shops shut and residents staying indoors amid fears of renewed violence.
Security Forces Step Up Operations Across Province
Pakistan’s military said it has launched intensive “sanitisation operations” to clear areas hit by the attacks. Troops continue to comb through affected zones as rescue efforts enter their second day. Police and forensic teams secured blast sites to gather evidence. Officials also confirmed that militants abducted a deputy district commissioner during the violence. Meanwhile, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility, stating it targeted military, police and civil administration installations using gun attacks and suicide bombings.
Political Fallout and Regional Tensions Rise
The violence followed the military’s claim a day earlier that it had killed 41 insurgents in separate operations in Balochistan. The province has endured a decades-long separatist insurgency marked by frequent attacks on security forces and infrastructure. As tensions escalated, India firmly rejected Pakistan’s claims of Indian involvement in the attacks. New Delhi called the allegations baseless and urged Islamabad to address long-standing grievances in the region. With fear gripping Balochistan and security forces on high alert, authorities now face the challenge of restoring calm while preventing further escalation.
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