Militant Attacks Kill 33 in Balochistan; 92 Assailants Dead

A wave of coordinated suicide bombings and gun attacks across Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province killed at least 33 people on Saturday, while security forces killed 92 militants in counter-operations, according to the military.

Those killed included 18 civilians and 15 members of the security forces. Officials described the violence as among the deadliest single days for militants in the province in decades, adding that 133 militants have been killed across Balochistan over the past 48 hours.

The attacks targeted civilians as well as police stations, a high-security prison and paramilitary installations in several districts. The outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility, releasing propaganda videos that showed female fighters participating in the assaults.

Provincial Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar said the attacks began almost simultaneously, prompting authorities to declare emergencies at hospitals. In Quetta, two police officers were killed when a grenade struck a police vehicle. In Mastung district, militants stormed a prison and freed more than 30 inmates, police said.

Security forces repelled attempts to overrun a paramilitary headquarters in Nushki district and foiled attacks on posts in several other areas. In coastal districts, including Pasni and Gwadar, militants attempted to abduct bus passengers on highways, but police said those efforts failed. Rail services linking Balochistan with other parts of the country were suspended after insurgents damaged tracks.

Pakistan’s military and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi alleged that the attackers were backed by India, a claim New Delhi has repeatedly denied. Islamabad also accused militants of using Afghan territory to launch attacks, which Kabul has rejected.

Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said security forces were pursuing remaining militants and claimed hundreds have been killed over the past year. Analysts said the scale of militant casualties in a single day was unprecedented, underscoring the intensifying insurgency in Balochistan amid a broader surge in militant violence nationwide.