Pakistan Hunts Baloch Militants, Over 190 Dead; India Denies Involvement
Pakistani forces continue to hunt separatists responsible for a wave of attacks in Balochistan, a province long affected by militancy. Islamabad has blamed India for the violence, but New Delhi has strongly denied any involvement. Over two days, more than 190 people—including militants, civilians, and security personnel—have been killed.
Troops were seen combing large areas after militants targeted banks, jails, police stations, and military installations, killing at least 31 civilians and 17 security personnel, according to Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti. Security forces said at least 145 attackers were also killed, including more than 40 on Friday.
The unrest has disrupted daily life. Mobile internet remains blocked, road traffic is limited, and train services have been suspended. “Anyone who leaves home has no certainty of returning safe and sound. There is constant fear,” said Hamdullah, a 39-year-old shopkeeper in Quetta.
Quetta, usually a bustling city, was eerily quiet after the explosions, with businesses closed and residents staying indoors.
The Baloch separatist insurgency has persisted for decades. Baloch groups allege that their language, culture, and identity are marginalized in a Punjabi-dominated Pakistan. They frequently target security forces, civilians from other provinces, and foreign nationals in the mineral-rich province bordering Afghanistan and Iran.
Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest but poorest province, lagging behind the rest of the country in education, employment, and economic development.
CM Bugti said all districts affected by the attacks had been cleared as of Sunday. “We are chasing them. Our blood is not that cheap. We will pursue them until their hideouts are destroyed,” he said.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), designated a terrorist organization by the United States, claimed responsibility for the attacks. The group said it targeted military installations, police, and civil administration officials using gunfire and suicide bombings.
Pakistan’s interior minister Mohsin Naqvi and defence minister Khawaja Asif accused India of supporting the attackers, though no evidence was provided. India responded: “We categorically reject Pakistan’s baseless allegations, which are aimed at deflecting attention from its internal failures. Instead of making frivolous claims, Pakistan should address the long-standing grievances of its people and respect human rights in the region.”
Baloch separatists accuse Pakistan of exploiting the province’s natural gas and mineral wealth without benefiting the local population. In recent years, the BLA has increasingly targeted non-local Pakistanis and foreign energy firms. Last year, the group attacked a train carrying 450 passengers, sparking a deadly two-day siege.
