Over 140 Killed in Two Days of Clashes in Balochistan
Islamabad, February 2 – Security forces in Pakistan’s Balochistan province have killed around 145 people during a nearly 40-hour-long military operation, local media reported citing provincial Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti. The action was taken in response to a series of coordinated gun and bomb attacks in the region.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), 92 militants were killed in the operation, while 15 civilians also lost their lives. The Express Tribune, a leading Pakistani newspaper, published the report.
Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti stated that 17 security personnel from police and the Frontier Corps were killed in the attacks, along with one naval officer. In total, 31 security personnel died, and several others were injured.
The recent violence marks the deadliest wave in Balochistan in recent years. The southwestern province, rich in natural resources and bordering Iran and Afghanistan, has seen an increase in attacks by active insurgent groups targeting security forces, civilians, and key infrastructure.
Pakistan’s Deputy Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry said attackers disguised as civilians entered hospitals, schools, banks, and markets before opening fire. He added that ordinary workers in shops were targeted and civilians were used as human shields during the attacks. Chaudhry said, “In every case, the attackers came in civilian clothes and indiscriminately targeted common people working in shops.”
The separatist Baloch Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for the attacks. The group says it launched a coordinated campaign named ‘Heroof’ or ‘Black Storm’ across Balochistan, targeting security forces. The organization claims to have killed over 80 security personnel and captured 18.
Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest but poorest province, plagued by decades of insurgency. Baloch separatist groups have long demanded greater autonomy and a larger share of the province’s natural resources.
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