Pakistani security forces have killed 177 militants in Balochistan over a 48-hour security operation, officials said, following a wave of attacks by separatist groups that left dozens dead. The operations are among the deadliest in recent years in the southwestern province, which has long been troubled by insurgency.
The attacks, attributed to the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) — a banned separatist group seeking greater autonomy for the Baloch ethnic minority — targeted multiple districts, including Quetta, Gwadar, and surrounding areas. Militants reportedly carried out suicide bombings, armed assaults on police stations, attacks on civilian homes, and strikes on security installations. At least 33 people, including civilians and security personnel, were killed during the initial attacks, according to military sources.
In response, Pakistani forces launched coordinated clearance operations, conducting sweeps of suspected militant hideouts and launching targeted strikes. Authorities said the operations led to the death of 177 militants, though the figures could not be independently verified. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi described the militants as “Indian-backed terrorists,” a claim that was not corroborated by independent sources, and there has been no immediate response from New Delhi.
The violence has disrupted daily life in parts of Balochistan. Train services linking the province with other regions have been suspended, and heightened security measures remain in place. Despite official statements that the situation is stabilizing, concerns persist over further attacks.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least populated province, has seen decades of insurgency rooted in ethnic grievances, disputes over control of natural resources, and opposition to infrastructure projects. Militants in the province have also previously targeted Chinese interests linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), complicating security operations.
