Islamabad, Feb 1 (EFE).- At least 92 militants, 15 security personnel and 18 civilians have been killed in a series of coordinated attacks launched by separatist groups across at least 12 locations in the restive province of Balochistan, the Pakistani army reported at the close of a counter-operation late Saturday.
The offensive, involving gunfire and explosions and claimed by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) under the name Operation Herof 2.0 (or Black Storm) simultaneously struck targets this weekend in the regional capital, Quetta, the port city of Gwadar, and the districts of Mastung, Nushki and Panjgur, among others.
The army confirmed in a statement that, after a “prolonged, intense and daring clearance operation,” its troops managed to repel the assaults and kill 92 militants, including three suicide bombers.
The death toll includes 18 civilians, among them women, children, the elderly and workers who, according to the military, were killed in direct attacks in Gwadar and Kharan.
Additionally, 15 members of the security forces were killed during the gun battles and search operations to regain control of the attacked areas.
The Pakistani army attributed the attacks to what it calls “Indian-sponsored Fitna al-Hindustan” (Indian-backed sedition), claiming that intelligence reports confirm the violence was directed by militant leaders operating from abroad.
New Delhi has consistently denied accusations of using proxy groups on Pakistani soil.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the security forces for thwarting what he described as an organized attempt to destabilize the region.
This escalation of violence surpasses in magnitude the first phase of Operation Herof, launched by the BLA in August 2024, which left more than 70 dead.
Balochistan, rich in mineral resources, has for decades been the scene of an insurgency denouncing unjust exploitation of the province by the federal government. EFE
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