Massacre in Balochistan: Pakistani Army Kills 145 Baloch Militants Following BLA Attacks

Islamabad: In response to deadly attacks by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), the Pakistani Army launched a massive counter-operation in the province, claiming to have killed 145 Baloch militants over the past two days. The clashes also resulted in the deaths of 17 security personnel and nearly 50 civilians, according to officials.

The attacks began on Saturday morning when BLA fighters simultaneously struck 14 cities across Balochistan, targeting hospitals, schools, banks, and marketplaces. Pakistan’s Junior Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry told Reuters that the attackers disguised themselves in civilian clothing and opened fire indiscriminately on shopkeepers and ordinary citizens. The militants reportedly used civilians as human shields in their assault.

Balochistan’s Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti confirmed the operation’s toll, noting that 31 civilians were among the dead and some of the neutralized militants were Afghan nationals. “The attackers had intended to take hostages but failed to reach city centers. Our security forces had prior intelligence about the planned operation and initiated a preemptive response,” Bugti stated.

While provincial officials claimed significant success, the BLA rejected these reports. In a statement, the militant group said it had launched attacks at 48 locations across 14 cities, killing 84 security personnel and capturing several posts. Independent verification of these claims is not available.

Bugti also accused India and Afghanistan of supporting the attackers, alleging that senior BLA leaders were operating from Afghan territory. He referred to the 2020 Doha Agreement, which promised that Afghan soil would not be used for attacks against Pakistan, and expressed concern that the pact has not been fully respected.