Baluchistan Liberation Army Claims Responsibility for Deadly Attacks in Southwestern Pakistan
The Baluchistan Liberation Army (BLA) claims responsibility for a series of attacks in southwestern Pakistan, killing over 40 people. The group warns of more intense violence as Pakistan vows to punish the attackers.
Bollywood Fever: A separatist group, the Baluchistan Liberation Army (BLA), has claimed responsibility for a series of deadly attacks in southwestern Pakistan that have left more than 40 people dead.
The attacks, which began late Sunday and continued into Monday, marked one of the deadliest days in recent violence in the restive region of Baluchistan.
The BLA, an outlawed organization, stated that 800 of its well-trained fighters participated in the first phase of the attacks, which involved both shootings and bombings.
The group warned that a second phase of violence would be “even more intense and widespread.”
Among the victims were 23 civilians and 14 security officials, making it the highest single-day death toll in the area in recent years.
The group, however, insisted in its statement that it did not harm civilians, a claim contradicted by the casualties.
Authorities began sending the bodies of the 23 civilians back to their home districts for burial on Tuesday.
Shafique Ullah, a local administration official, confirmed that 14 of the victims were from Punjab province, while nine were Baluch.
The attacks have drawn widespread condemnation across Pakistan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, ruling out peace talks with insurgents who target the state and security forces.
He emphasized that the recent violence in Baluchistan aimed to disrupt Chinese-funded development projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multi-billion-dollar initiative to enhance infrastructure and economic ties between Pakistan and China.
CPEC projects have frequently been targeted by the BLA and other militant groups, who have also attacked Chinese nationals working in the region.
Sarfraz Bugti, the chief minister of Baluchistan, vowed that operations against the insurgents would continue. Speaking to reporters in Quetta on Monday, he stated, “Those who killed our innocent civilians and security will be dealt with full force.”
Baluchistan has long been a hotspot for separatist insurgency, with various groups demanding independence from Pakistan’s central government.
Although the government claims to have largely quelled the insurgency, sporadic violence continues to plague the region.
The BLA’s recent attacks highlight the ongoing unrest and the challenges facing Pakistan in securing peace in Baluchistan.
As the government pledges to punish those responsible, the threat of further violence looms over the region, raising concerns about the stability and safety of both local populations and international projects.
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