At least 10 members of Pakistan’s security forces and 37 others were killed on Saturday as ethnic Baloch separatists launched a wave of coordinated attacks across more than a dozen locations in Balochistan, officials said.
The violence prompted the suspension of train services, disruption of mobile networks and heightened security across the insurgency-hit southwestern province.
A senior security official told AFP that militants carried out near-simultaneous assaults early in the morning, targeting police stations, paramilitary installations, highways and other state facilities.
“Thirty-seven terrorists have been eliminated. Ten security personnel were martyred, while a few others were injured,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Another senior official based in Quetta said at least four police officers were killed in the provincial capital, though it was not immediately clear whether they were included in the overall toll. A military official in Islamabad confirmed the attacks, describing them as “coordinated but poorly executed,” adding that they collapsed quickly due to an effective security response.
Authorities said the deputy commissioner of Nushki district was abducted during the attacks. In several districts, officials cautioned that the situation remained tense, with security operations still underway.
Mobile phone services were jammed in affected areas, traffic was disrupted, and Pakistan Railways suspended all train services from Balochistan after militants reportedly damaged rail tracks. Hospitals across the province were placed on emergency footing.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised security forces for foiling what he described as coordinated attacks in 12 locations. “I, along with the entire nation, am proud of our martyrs,” he said in a statement, vowing to continue operations against militancy until its “complete eradication.” Sharif and other officials again accused India of backing the separatists, a claim New Delhi has repeatedly denied.
The outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), the most active separatist group in the province, claimed responsibility. In a statement sent to AFP, the group said it targeted military installations, police and civil administration officials through gun attacks and suicide bombings, and blocked major highways to disrupt security operations.
In Quetta, heavy security was deployed across the city as multiple explosions were heard through the morning. Major roads were deserted and businesses remained shut. “Since morning, there have been explosions one after another,” said Abdul Wali, a 38-year-old private employee, speaking to AFP outside a hospital.
According to police and government officials, militants also attacked a prison in Mastung district, freeing more than 30 inmates, and attempted to storm paramilitary headquarters in Nushki, though that assault was repelled. Grenade attacks were reported in Dalbandin, while assaults on security posts in Balincha, Tump and Kharan were thwarted. In coastal districts such as Pasni and Gwadar, attackers attempted to stop buses and abduct passengers on highways, police said.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed the death toll and praised security forces for killing dozens of assailants. He alleged the attacks were carried out by Indian-backed groups, using a term the government applies to the BLA and allied outfits.
Saturday’s violence came just a day after the military said it had killed 41 insurgents in two separate operations in Balochistan. Security officials also claimed militants were in contact with handlers based in Afghanistan during the attacks, a charge Kabul has denied in the past.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but poorest province, has faced a separatist insurgency for decades. Despite vast mineral and energy resources, the region lags behind in education, employment and development. In recent years, Baloch militants have stepped up attacks on security forces, workers from other provinces and foreign-backed energy projects, accusing the state of exploiting local resources.
Last year, Baloch separatists carried out a high-profile attack on a passenger train carrying hundreds of people, triggering a two-day siege that left dozens dead, underscoring the persistent volatility in the region.