Pakistan's military says it has killed at least 92 militants blamed for deadly co-ordinated attacks in the south-western Balochistan province on Saturday. The military reported that 15 security service personnel and 18 civilians were also killed, alleging India's support for the militants, a claim that Delhi has repeatedly denied.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) rebel group had claimed responsibility for the attacks, stating that dozens of soldiers were killed. The death toll and claims from both sides have not been independently verified, but the escalation indicates one of the deadliest days of violence in this impoverished province, where Pakistan's government has been battling an ongoing ethnic insurgency for decades.
In a statement, Pakistan's military blamed the militants for carrying out multiple attacks targeting civilians in and around the provincial capital, Quetta, and announced the launch of 'clearance' operations across Balochistan, claiming success in thwarting the rebels' actions. During the chaos, key administrative buildings in Quetta were sealed off, mobile services were disrupted, and train services were halted as precautionary measures.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended the military for its actions and committed to continue combating terrorism until it's completely eradicated. Earlier in the day, militants armed with grenades and firearms attacked 12 cities and towns across the province, targeting security installations and government buildings.
The BLA's grievances include accusations against the federal government for exploiting Balochistan's rich mineral resources without benefiting local residents. Activists in the region also raise serious concerns about enforced disappearances attributed to Pakistani security forces, allegations which the government denies.
Since its independence from the British Indian Empire in 1947, resistance against the Pakistani government and the associated militant insurgency advocating for an independent state for the Baloch began in 1948. Sharing a volatile border with Iran and Afghanistan, Balochistan is rich in natural resources but its indigenous communities often face neglect and violence.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) rebel group had claimed responsibility for the attacks, stating that dozens of soldiers were killed. The death toll and claims from both sides have not been independently verified, but the escalation indicates one of the deadliest days of violence in this impoverished province, where Pakistan's government has been battling an ongoing ethnic insurgency for decades.
In a statement, Pakistan's military blamed the militants for carrying out multiple attacks targeting civilians in and around the provincial capital, Quetta, and announced the launch of 'clearance' operations across Balochistan, claiming success in thwarting the rebels' actions. During the chaos, key administrative buildings in Quetta were sealed off, mobile services were disrupted, and train services were halted as precautionary measures.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended the military for its actions and committed to continue combating terrorism until it's completely eradicated. Earlier in the day, militants armed with grenades and firearms attacked 12 cities and towns across the province, targeting security installations and government buildings.
The BLA's grievances include accusations against the federal government for exploiting Balochistan's rich mineral resources without benefiting local residents. Activists in the region also raise serious concerns about enforced disappearances attributed to Pakistani security forces, allegations which the government denies.
Since its independence from the British Indian Empire in 1947, resistance against the Pakistani government and the associated militant insurgency advocating for an independent state for the Baloch began in 1948. Sharing a volatile border with Iran and Afghanistan, Balochistan is rich in natural resources but its indigenous communities often face neglect and violence.
