Balochistan violence escalates: BLA claims 25 Pakistani soldiers killed in two attacks
Islamabad: Violence in Pakistan’s Balochistan province has intensified after the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed that 25 Pakistani military personnel were killed in two separate attacks.
The militant group claimed that its fighters targeted a military convoy at Ziarat Cross, where 18 personnel were allegedly killed and two military vehicles destroyed. Five others were reportedly injured and managed to escape.
The claims could not be independently verified, while Pakistani authorities have not publicly released details confirming the reported casualties.
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Following the attack, the BLA's media outlet, Hakkal, released footage showing explosions, gunfire and military vehicles on fire. The video also purportedly showed armed fighters collecting weapons from damaged vehicles.
The footage and the claims surrounding it could not be independently authenticated.
The attack was reportedly carried out by the BLA's Fateh Squad, a unit associated with high-risk ambushes and guerrilla operations in Balochistan.
Second attack reported in Surab
In a separate incident in Hajika, Surab, the BLA claimed that its Special Tactical Operations Squad (STOS) conducted a remote-controlled vehicle-borne attack.
According to the group, seven Pakistani soldiers were killed in the blast.
As with the first incident, the casualty figures have not been independently verified.
The BLA's Fateh Squad has earlier been linked to major attacks, including the March 2025 Jaffar Express hijacking, in which a passenger train was seized during an insurgent assault.
Pakistan claims nearly 50 militants killed
Pakistan's military later announced that its forces had conducted operations against militant hideouts in several Balochistan districts.
The military claimed that nearly 50 militants were killed during raids in areas, including Mastung, Sibi, Quetta and Kalat. It said those targeted were associated with outlawed militant organisations, including the BLA and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The competing casualty claims could not be independently verified.
Violence surges across Balochistan
The latest clashes highlight the continuing security crisis in Balochistan, where separatist groups have been fighting the Pakistani state for decades.
The BLA and other insurgent organisations have repeatedly targeted security forces, military installations, transport routes and other strategic infrastructure.
Baloch separatist groups have accused Pakistani authorities of abuses, including enforced disappearances and action against political activists. Pakistan, meanwhile, has maintained that militant organisations are responsible for attacks and instability in the province.
The latest tit-for-tat violence points to a further escalation in an insurgency that has remained one of Pakistan's most persistent security challenges.
- With inputs from agencies
