At Least Nine Pakistani Soldiers Killed in Terrorist Attack in Balochistan

At least nine Pakistani soldiers have been killed in a terrorist attack in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province. The attack took place in the Washuk district, where terrorists systematically targeted a security forces convoy.

According to local administrative sources, dozens of terrorists launched a sudden assault on a police station and a Frontier Corps base camp. A senior official stated that the attackers ambushed the army convoy while it was on patrol. The fierce attack caused significant casualties, and the deaths of nine soldiers have been confirmed. There has been no official confirmation of how many terrorists were killed in the retaliatory action.

This is not the first incident of violence in Balochistan. Recently, the Jaffar Express train was also targeted. An IED explosion on the railway tracks in the Mastung district of Balochistan derailed the train, causing six carriages to overturn. Four passengers were injured in the incident. The train was en route to Peshawar.

The violence is not limited to security forces. A few days ago, unidentified gunmen opened fire indiscriminately on a passenger bus traveling from Karachi to Quetta, killing three passengers and injuring seven. This incident, which occurred in the Kalat region, has further heightened a sense of fear and insecurity among the general public.

Earlier, a powerful bomb explosion near Jabbar Market in the Kila Abdullah district killed four people and injured more than 20. The blast was so powerful that it caused extensive damage to many nearby shops and buildings. A fire that broke out after the explosion caused chaos throughout the market area.

Why is Balochistan Restive?

The Balochistan province has long been a center of instability. Separatist movements and terrorist incidents have been a continuous feature here for about two decades. The local Baloch community alleges that the Pakistani government has been exploiting the natural resources of their region without giving them their due rights. This is what led to the start of the separatist movement.

These feelings of discontent have now turned violent, with Baloch insurgents openly targeting the Pakistani army and security agencies. Their tactics include ambush attacks, IED explosions, attacks on trains, and even targeting civilians. A few days ago, the US designated one of the rebel groups in the region as a terrorist organization.