Pakistani forces have launched a major operation in the volatile province of Balochistan, killing at least 145 fighters from the separatist Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) in a crackdown that has sent shockwaves across the region. The announcement comes just days after a series of coordinated gun and bomb attacks left nearly 50 people dead.
The violence began on Saturday, with multiple locations across southwestern Balochistan coming under attack by armed men who opened fire at security installations, attempted suicide bombings, and briefly blocked roads in urban areas. The assault is believed to have been orchestrated by the BLA, which has long targeted Pakistani security forces and civilians.
The operation has sparked widespread security restrictions in the province, with authorities banning public gatherings, demonstrations, and limiting traffic movement. Face coverings that conceal individual identities are also banned in public places, according to reports from the Dawn newspaper.
Provincial Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti announced that troops and police officers had responded swiftly to the attacks, killing 145 members of "Fitna al-Hindustan", a phrase used by the government to describe the BLA. The number of fighters killed over the past two days is the highest in decades, according to Bugti.
The operation has also drawn accusations from Afghanistan and India, which deny backing the BLA. Bugti accused Afghanistan of supporting the attackers, while senior leaders of the BLA were believed to be operating from Afghan territory.
India's Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal rejected the allegations as "baseless", saying that Pakistan should instead address its own internal problems rather than deflecting attention from them.
The violence in Balochistan has been ongoing for decades, with ethnic Baloch seeking greater autonomy and a larger share of the province's natural resources. The BLA regularly targets Pakistani security forces and civilians, including Chinese nationals working on various projects in the region.
The latest attacks have had a devastating impact on the local community, with residents telling Al Jazeera that they fear more attacks. Burnt-out vehicles at a police station, bullet-riddled doors, and sealed-off streets are just some of the visible signs of the aftermath.
In an "audacious" operation, the BLA targeted at least 12 locations in Quetta, penetrating the centre of the city and blocking major highways. The attackers used civilians as human shields and indiscriminately targeted ordinary people working in shops.
The United States has condemned the attacks, calling them acts of terrorist violence and expressing solidarity with Pakistan.
The violence began on Saturday, with multiple locations across southwestern Balochistan coming under attack by armed men who opened fire at security installations, attempted suicide bombings, and briefly blocked roads in urban areas. The assault is believed to have been orchestrated by the BLA, which has long targeted Pakistani security forces and civilians.
The operation has sparked widespread security restrictions in the province, with authorities banning public gatherings, demonstrations, and limiting traffic movement. Face coverings that conceal individual identities are also banned in public places, according to reports from the Dawn newspaper.
Provincial Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti announced that troops and police officers had responded swiftly to the attacks, killing 145 members of "Fitna al-Hindustan", a phrase used by the government to describe the BLA. The number of fighters killed over the past two days is the highest in decades, according to Bugti.
The operation has also drawn accusations from Afghanistan and India, which deny backing the BLA. Bugti accused Afghanistan of supporting the attackers, while senior leaders of the BLA were believed to be operating from Afghan territory.
India's Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal rejected the allegations as "baseless", saying that Pakistan should instead address its own internal problems rather than deflecting attention from them.
The violence in Balochistan has been ongoing for decades, with ethnic Baloch seeking greater autonomy and a larger share of the province's natural resources. The BLA regularly targets Pakistani security forces and civilians, including Chinese nationals working on various projects in the region.
The latest attacks have had a devastating impact on the local community, with residents telling Al Jazeera that they fear more attacks. Burnt-out vehicles at a police station, bullet-riddled doors, and sealed-off streets are just some of the visible signs of the aftermath.
In an "audacious" operation, the BLA targeted at least 12 locations in Quetta, penetrating the centre of the city and blocking major highways. The attackers used civilians as human shields and indiscriminately targeted ordinary people working in shops.
The United States has condemned the attacks, calling them acts of terrorist violence and expressing solidarity with Pakistan.
. Balochistan's been through hell for years & it's time someone did something about it 