Pakistan has launched a large-scale security operation across Balochistan after coordinated militant attacks on Saturday resulted in one of the deadliest outbreaks of violence in recent years. According to official figures, at least 31 civilians and 17 security personnel were killed, while authorities claim 145 militants were eliminated in counter-operations.
The attacks, carried out by the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), targeted military installations, banks, jails and government buildings across nearly a dozen locations, including the provincial capital Quetta. In response, the government imposed sweeping restrictions, suspended mobile internet, sealed major roads and halted train services. Investigations and rescue operations are ongoing.
Pakistan has alleged foreign involvement in the violence, accusations that India has categorically rejected as baseless. The situation has once again highlighted the long-standing instability and deep-rooted tensions in the restive province.
A Province Gripped by Fear and Uncertainty
Balochistan woke up on Sunday to an atmosphere of fear, lockdowns and heavy military presence after a day of unprecedented violence. Explosions and gun battles that erupted across the province on Saturday left shattered buildings, mangled vehicles and traumatised residents in their wake. According to officials, militants launched highly coordinated assaults at around a dozen locations, storming sensitive sites such as military camps, police stations, banks and jails.
The provincial capital Quetta, normally a bustling urban centre, resembled a ghost town. Major roads were deserted, markets remained shut and residents largely stayed indoors. Mobile internet services were suspended across Balochistan for more than 24 hours, while road traffic and rail services were halted as part of heightened security measures. Authorities said these steps were necessary to prevent further attacks and to assist counter-terror operations.
A senior official confirmed that during the chaos, a deputy district commissioner was abducted by militants, adding to concerns about the scale and brazenness of the operation. Rescue teams and law enforcement agencies continued working through Sunday to secure affected areas and provide medical aid to the injured.
The human impact of the violence has been devastating. Speaking to AFP, a local shopkeeper named Hamdullah summed up the anxiety gripping the region: “Anyone who leaves home has no certainty of returning safe and sound. There is constant fear over whether they will come back unharmed.” His words reflect the everyday reality of ordinary citizens caught in the middle of a long-running conflict.
Pakistan’s military issued a strong statement late Saturday, saying it was conducting “sanitisation operations” to eliminate remaining threats. “The instigators, perpetrators, facilitators and abettors of these heinous and cowardly acts will be brought to justice,” the statement declared. Hospitals in major towns were placed on emergency footing as casualties continued to arrive.
Militancy, Claims and Counterclaims
The banned separatist group Baloch Liberation Army quickly claimed responsibility for the attacks, stating that it had deliberately targeted military installations as well as police and civil administration officials. In a statement sent to media outlets, the group said the operation was carried out using coordinated gun assaults and suicide bombings.
The scale of Saturday’s violence marked a significant escalation in the decades-old insurgency in Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least developed province. The unrest stems from long-standing grievances over political marginalisation, alleged exploitation of natural resources and accusations of human rights violations by security forces.
The attacks came just a day after Pakistan’s military announced that it had killed 41 insurgents in two separate operations in the province. Observers believe the weekend assaults may have been a retaliatory response to those killings, signalling a dangerous new phase in the conflict.
In the aftermath, Pakistan’s political and military leadership sought to link the violence to external actors. Senior officials suggested that foreign intelligence agencies were supporting Baloch militants in an attempt to destabilise the country. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif alleged an “India-BLA nexus” behind the coordinated strikes.
India, however, rejected the allegations in the strongest terms. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the claims as “baseless” and part of Pakistan’s routine tactic of shifting blame. “Instead of parroting frivolous claims each time there is a violent incident, Pakistan would do better to focus on addressing long-standing demands of its people in the region,” Jaiswal said. He added that Islamabad’s “record of suppression, brutality and violation of human rights is well known.”
These diplomatic exchanges underline how the Balochistan conflict often spills over into regional geopolitics, further complicating prospects for peace.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The tragedy unfolding in Balochistan is a painful reminder that violence ultimately leaves no winners—only shattered lives and broken communities. The deaths of civilians, security personnel and even young militants reflect the enormous human cost of unresolved political conflicts. Every explosion, every gun battle and every retaliatory operation pushes the region further away from stability and normalcy.
While acts of terror and attacks on civilians must be condemned unequivocally, it is equally important to recognise that lasting peace cannot be built through military force alone. The roots of the Balochistan crisis lie in decades of mistrust, unaddressed grievances and feelings of exclusion. Genuine solutions require dialogue, political inclusion, economic justice and respect for human rights.
