Massive Baloch rebel attacks rocked Pakistan’s Balochistan province as security forces claimed 145 militants killed in a 40-hour counter-offensive. Dozens of civilians and security personnel died, exposing Pakistan’s deepening internal security crisis.
Pakistan’s volatile Balochistan province has witnessed one of its deadliest security crises in recent years after coordinated insurgent attacks across multiple districts triggered a prolonged military counter-offensive, leaving at least 145 militants and dozens of civilians and security personnel dead, according to official claims.
The violence erupted through a series of near-simultaneous gun and bomb attacks targeting key urban centres including Quetta, Gwadar, Mastung and Noshki. Pakistani authorities said the attacks stretched over several hours and struck both security installations and crowded civilian locations, underscoring the expanding operational capability of Baloch separatist groups.
Hospitals, markets, banks, police stations and schools were among the targets, spreading panic across the resource-rich but underdeveloped province. Officials confirmed that nearly 50 people, including civilians and law enforcement personnel, were killed in the initial wave of violence before security forces launched an intensive response.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti stated that 17 security personnel and 31 civilians lost their lives during the attacks. Pakistan’s military claimed that 92 militants were killed on Saturday and another 41 on Friday, bringing the total militant death toll to 145 after a 40-hour counter-operation involving the army, police and counter-terrorism units.
The banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which has been fighting for greater autonomy and control over Balochistan’s natural resources, claimed responsibility for the assaults. In a statement circulated online, the group described the attacks as part of a coordinated operation aimed at security forces and state infrastructure.
Pakistani officials said the attackers had disguised themselves as civilians to evade detection and launched coordinated strikes across distant locations, overwhelming local security arrangements. Intelligence agencies reportedly had warnings of an impending attack, prompting limited pre-emptive operations, but authorities conceded these measures failed to prevent the scale and intensity of the assault.
Heavy gunfights erupted as security forces moved to retake control of affected areas. Large sections of Quetta were placed under heightened security, with checkpoints reinforced and mobile networks reportedly disrupted in certain localities. Images from the aftermath showed torched police stations, bullet-riddled government buildings and burnt vehicles lining major roads.
The violence once again highlighted the deep-rooted instability in Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by area but its poorest in terms of socio-economic development. The region has long been gripped by a separatist insurgency driven by allegations of political marginalisation, enforced disappearances, human rights abuses and unequal exploitation of gas, mineral and coastal resources.
Amid the unfolding crisis, Pakistan’s military attempted to link the attacks to what it described as “Indian-sponsored militants,” an allegation that New Delhi swiftly and firmly rejected. India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal dismissed the claims as baseless and politically motivated.
“We categorically reject the unfounded allegations made by Pakistan. Instead of shifting blame, Pakistan should address the long-standing political, economic and social grievances of its own people in the region,” Jaiswal said.
Defence and strategic analysts in India and abroad noted that Islamabad has frequently externalised responsibility for internal security failures, particularly during major militant attacks. They argued that the resurgence of violence in Balochistan reflects unresolved structural issues rather than foreign interference.
The United States condemned the attacks as acts of terrorism and reiterated its support for Pakistan’s efforts to combat militant violence. The Baloch Liberation Army remains designated as a foreign terrorist organisation by Washington, despite international concern over the underlying causes fueling unrest in the province.
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The latest escalation comes as Pakistan continues to grapple with multiple security threats across its territory, including repeated attacks by Islamist militant groups in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and along the Afghan border. Analysts warn that persistent instability in Balochistan could further strain Pakistan’s security forces and complicate regional security dynamics.
As calm gradually returned following the military operation, questions remained over whether the heavy-handed security response would address the root causes of the insurgency or deepen local resentment in a province that has remained restive for decades.
