Pakistan says 145 militants killed after Balochistan attack operations
Pakistan says 145 militants were killed after Balochistan attacks, underscoring rising violence and strained ties with India.
Pakistan’s security forces killed at least 145 militants over a span of roughly 40 hours following a series of coordinated and deadly attacks across the restive province of Balochistan, provincial Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti said on Sunday. The sweeping operations came after violence erupted almost simultaneously in several districts, leaving dozens of security personnel and civilians dead and plunging the province into heightened tension.
Speaking at a press conference in the provincial capital, Quetta, Bugti described the scale of the operations as unprecedented. He said the militants were killed during raids carried out on Friday and Saturday, as well as in continuing combing operations that are still underway in several areas. “Our forces are actively pursuing the attackers, and mopping-up operations are ongoing,” Bugti said, signaling that the security response is far from over.
According to the chief minister, the wave of violence claimed the lives of 17 law enforcement personnel and 31 civilians. The attacks struck multiple locations, including Quetta, the strategic port city of Gwadar, and the districts of Mastung and Noshki. The near-simultaneous nature of the assaults underscored the level of planning involved and rattled an already volatile province that has long struggled with separatist insurgency and underdevelopment.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a banned militant group, claimed responsibility for the attacks. The violence triggered large-scale counter-operations involving the army, police and specialized counterterrorism units. Security forces sealed off several affected areas and launched coordinated raids to track down militants believed to be hiding in urban neighborhoods and surrounding terrain.
A day before Bugti’s remarks, Pakistan’s military alleged that the attacks were carried out by “Indian-sponsored militants,” though it did not provide evidence to support the claim. On Sunday, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif reinforced that accusation, asserting that the attackers had links to India and vowing to “completely eliminate these terrorists.”
“Even now our security forces are engaged in mopping-up operations,” Asif said, emphasizing the government’s determination to crush militant networks operating in the province.
India swiftly rejected the allegations. In a strongly worded response, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described Pakistan’s claims as baseless and habitual. He said Islamabad was once again attempting to deflect attention from its internal challenges by blaming external actors.
He added that Pakistan’s “record of suppression, brutality and violation of human rights is well known,” sharpening the diplomatic exchange between the two neighbors.
Meanwhile, the situation on the ground in Balochistan remains tense. On Saturday, the BLA announced it had launched the second phase of what it calls Operation Herof, or “black storm,” aimed at security personnel. This announcement came just a day after the military said it had killed 41 insurgents in two separate operations, highlighting the rapid escalation in violence.
In a statement attributed to its spokesperson, Jeeyand Baloch, the group claimed its fighters had briefly taken control of a Counter Terrorism Department headquarters in Noshki and overrun a Frontier Corps facility, killing several Pakistani soldiers during the attacks. Officials have not independently confirmed all of the group’s claims, but the scale of the assaults has been acknowledged by authorities.
In other incidents, militants freed at least 30 inmates from a district jail, seized firearms and ammunition, ransacked a police station and fled with weapons, according to officials. These acts further exposed security vulnerabilities and deepened fears among local residents.
As security forces continue their operations, daily life across much of Balochistan has been severely disrupted. Around a dozen sites remain sealed off, mobile internet services have been suspended for more than 24 hours, and road traffic is heavily restricted. Train services have also been halted as a precautionary measure.
For many in the province, the latest violence is a grim reminder of Balochistan’s long-running conflict, marked by insurgency, heavy security presence and deep grievances over political rights and economic neglect. While the government insists it will restore order, the bloodshed has once again raised questions about whether a purely military response can bring lasting peace to Pakistan’s most troubled region.