Pakistan Kills 177 Baloch Militants in 48 Hours After Attacks

RR Team

10 hours ago

Pakistani security forces have killed at least 177 suspected Baloch militants in a series of intensive operations across insurgency-hit Balochistan over the past 48 hours, officials said on Monday. The sweeping crackdown follows a wave of coordinated attacks by separatist groups that left at least 33 people dead, most of them civilians, in one of the deadliest flare-ups in the province in decades.

Authorities said police units backed by the military launched raids in multiple districts of the southwestern province bordering Afghanistan after militants carried out near-simultaneous suicide bombings and gun attacks on security installations and civilian targets.

Wave of Attacks Triggered Massive Security Response

The operations began early Saturday after nearly 200 militants, operating in small groups, launched coordinated assaults across Balochistan. Police stations, security facilities, and civilian homes were among the targets, officials said.

The outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attacks, which marked a sharp escalation in the long-running separatist insurgency in the province.

Rising Death Toll

Initial operations resulted in the deaths of more than 145 militants, with security forces killing an additional 22 insurgents overnight, according to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. This brought the total militant death toll to 177 within two days.

Analysts described the scale of the crackdown and the number of militants killed as unprecedented in recent decades, underscoring the intensity of the fighting.

Civilian and Security Casualties

The weekend violence claimed the lives of at least 18 civilians and 15 members of Pakistan’s security forces. The attacks drew condemnation from across the political spectrum, including leaders from the party of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Authorities said several others were injured during the attacks and subsequent operations, though an exact figure has not been released.

Government Claims and Allegations

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the security forces for what he called a decisive response. In a statement, he alleged that those killed were “Indian-backed terrorists,” though no evidence was publicly presented to support the claim.

India has previously rejected similar allegations, and there was no immediate response from New Delhi to the latest remarks.

Life in Balochistan Disrupted

Although officials said normalcy largely returned to most parts of the province by Monday, train services between Balochistan and the rest of Pakistan remained suspended for a third consecutive day due to security concerns.

Provincial authorities said the suspension would continue until a comprehensive security assessment is completed.

Background of the Baloch Insurgency

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least populated province, is rich in natural resources and home to the ethnic Baloch minority. Many Baloch groups have long accused the central government of discrimination and economic exploitation.

This has fueled a separatist insurgency demanding greater autonomy or independence. Islamist militant groups also operate in the region, complicating the security landscape.

Past Attacks and Regional Impact

The BLA has carried out several high-profile attacks in recent years, frequently targeting security forces, infrastructure projects, and Chinese interests linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

In March last year, BLA militants attacked the Jaffar Express train, killing at least 31 people and taking passengers hostage. Security forces later killed all 33 assailants and rescued the passengers.