Separatists in Pakistan’s Balochistan province launched coordinated attacks on civilians, security forces, and infrastructure early Saturday, resulting in the deaths of 11 civilians, 10 security personnel, and 67 attackers. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for these assaults, which included bank robberies and arson. Police quickly responded, eliminating all attackers, with reports indicating the death of at least 108 militants in recent operations, marking a particularly deadly day for extremist groups.
Balochistan’s police reported that many attacks were thwarted, and the government declared a state of emergency in hospitals due to the violence. Notably, the attacks coincided with military raids on militant hideouts, leading to the deaths of 41 rebels earlier in the week. The BLA, a designated terrorist organization, has frequently targeted security forces in the region and is believed to have ties to external actors, an accusation denied by India.
Analysts noted the unprecedented scale of the casualties among militants, indicating a significant response from security forces to the ongoing insurgency in Balochistan, a region troubled by separatist movements seeking independence from Pakistan’s central government.
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