Balochistan | Pakistan

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said that people who were “misled” by terrorists in Balochistan must be brought back on board, stressing the need for resolving issues through dialogue. The security situation in Balochistan has worsened in recent months, as militants, long involved in a low-level insurgency, have stepped up the frequency and intensity of their attacks. The outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army, in particular, has adopted new tactics to inflict higher casualties and directly target Pakistani security forces. Last month, ISPR Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry accused India of activating its “assets” to inte­nsify terrorist attacks in Pakistan, presenting “irr­e­futable evidence” of Ind­ian state-sponsored terrorism, directed by the Ind­ian military personnel. Speaking at the Balochistan Grand Jirga in Quetta, PM Shehbaz said, “The terrorists [in Balochistan] must not be tolerated by the public, government or armed forces. “We must make efforts to bring back the people who we...

A district official was killed when his house was attacked by terrorists in Balochistan’s Surab city on Friday, a statement from the provincial government said. Balochistan Government Spokesperson Shahid Rind, in a statement, termed the incident a “nefarious attempt to challenge the writ of the state”. “A bank was looted and the homes of several government officials were attacked, including Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Hidayatullah Buledi. “Buledi was martyred while defending his home during the attack,” Rind said in the statement, adding that the official “set a new example of bravery” through his sacrifice. “Women and children were also present at the residence during the attack,” he added. The spokesperson added that “Indian-sponsored proxies have taken action on (India’s) behalf”, adding that a search operation was underway in the area. “We are determined to thwart efforts of anti-state elements,” he said, according to the statement. Frontier Corps and Levies personnel had arrived at the scene...

ISLAMABAD - Four soldiers were martyred and 12 terrorists belonging to Indian proxy Fitna al Khwarij were killed in different security operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces.

Four soldiers were martyred as security forces killed 12 terrorists linked to “Indian proxy groups” in operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, the military’s media wing said. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Thursday night, seven terrorists were killed in operations in the North Waziristan and Chitral districts. In North Waziristan, “Indian-sponsored khawarij attempted to attack a security forces’ check post in general area Shawal,” the ISPR said, using the state-designated term for terrorists. “The attempt was effectively thwarted by own troops and in [the] ensuing fire exchange, six Indian-sponsored khawarij were sent to hell. “However, during intense fire exchange, Lieutenant Daniyal Ismail (age: 24 years, resident of District Mardan), a brave young officer who was leading his troops from [the] front, fought gallantly and embraced shahadat (martyrdom) along with his three men,” the ISPR said. The three other soldiers martyred in the operation we...

Five terrorists belonging to Indian proxy Fitna-al-Hindustan were killed in two separate engagements in Balochistan.

At least four people died and 31 were injured on Thursday when a speeding passenger bus overturned on the National Highway N-65 near Haji Shaher in Balochistan’s Kacchi District, officials said. Dr Jamshed Marri, dispensary of Sibi Teaching Hospital, told Dawn.com, “As soon as information was received that a Daewoo bus travelling from Sadiqabad to Quetta lost control due to high speed and overturned, Kachhi Levies, Highway Police, and rescue teams immediately reached the spot and started rescue operations.” The bodies of the deceased and the injured were taken to the Sibi Teaching Hospital, while four critically injured passengers have been moved to Quetta for better medical facilities. Dr Marri noted that the injured included the bus driver and the conductor. Police said that according to initial investigations, the cause of the accident appeared to be speeding. However, further investigation into the incident was underway. Balochistan government spokesman Shahid Rind expressed grief over the accident and sa...

Amnesty International and four other human rights organisations called on Pakistan to release human rights defenders in Balochistan and end the crackdown on dissent, according to Amnesty’s website. Last week, the Balochistan High Court rejected constitutional petitions seeking the release of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) Chief Organiser Dr Mahrang Baloch and two other leaders detained under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance (MPO). The BYC is a Baloch advocacy group working against enforced disappearances since 2018. Mahrang and other BYC activists were arrested on March 22 for allegedly “attacking” Quetta Civil Hospital and “inciting people to violence”, a day after their members faced a police crackdown in Quetta while protesting against alleged enforced disappearances. A letter dated May 27 was addressed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and signed by Amnesty, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia), Front Line Defenders (FLD), the International Federation for Hum...

Security forces killed four terrorists belonging to a banned outfit during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Balochistan’s Musakhel area on Wednesday.

A policeman guarding a polio vaccination team was gunned down on Tuesday by unknown attackers in Balochistan’s Noshki district, according to an official. Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries where polio remains endemic, and vaccination teams are frequently targeted by militants waging a campaign against security forces. Noshki Deputy Commissioner (DC) Amjad Hussain Soomro confirmed the “unfortunate incident” to Dawn.com, in which Waheed Ahmed was gunned down in Noshki’s Killi Muhammad Hassni district. He said that police have set up checkpoints at various places to search for the attackers, who will be arrested soon. DC Soomro noted that security of the health department staff working on the anti-polio campaign has been further beefed up. He added that the anti-polio campaign is continuing even after the terrorist incident and the targets given to the anti-polio teams in Noshki district for this national cause will be completed soon. Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind confirmed that th...

QUETTA - Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said on Friday that India wanted to destabilise Balochistan through its proxies and its nefarious designs will never succeed.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said on Friday that India wanted to destabilize Balochistan through its proxies, and its nefarious designs will never succeed.

Balochistan’s olive oil shines at global contest

In a development to preserve cultural goods, French authorities have returned Balochistan’s smuggled archaeological artefacts to Pakistan after keeping them seized. The artefacts, which hold enormous historical significance, were detained by French Customs in recent years and transferred to the Embassy of Pakistan in Paris. In accordance with France’s obligations under the UNESCO Convention of […]

Twelve terrorists of “Indian proxy” outfits were killed by security forces while two personnel were martyred in separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, the military’s media wing said on Monday. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the intelligence-based operations (IBOs) were conducted on Saturday and Sunday against the banned militant Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan group in KP and the proscribed Balochistan Liberation Front in Balochistan. It said an IBO was conducted in Lakki Marwat district during which troops engaged the enemy at its location and sent “five Indian sponsored” terrorists to “hell”. In a second IBO in Bannu district, two “Indian sponsored” terrorists were “successfully neutralised” by the security forces. It added that terrorists ambushed a security forces convoy in another incident in North Waziristan district’s general area of Mir Ali, adding that two “Indian sponsored” terrorists were “sent to hell” after the effective response of troops. “However, during the in...

Security forces have killed three terrorists belonging to Indian proxy, the so called Baloch Liberation Front, in two separate engagements in Balochistan.

Two people were killed and at least 11 were injured after an explosion ripped through a market in Balochistan’s Qila Abdullah district on Sunday evening, officials said. Deputy Commissioner Qila Abdullah Riyaz Khan told Dawn.com, “Two people were killed while 11 were injured in the explosion.” According to the initial investigation, the explosives were planted in a vehicle, DC Khan said, adding that the bomb disposal squad and law enforcement officials were summoned and an investigation was launched. “An emergency was declared at the District Health Headquarters in Qila Abdullah, where medical assistance was being provided to the injured,” he said. In a separate statement given to Dawn.com, Qila Abdullah Levies Risaldar Gulab Khan said, “The blast took place near the Abdul Jabbar Market in the Gulistan area of Qila Abdullah district, resulting in the death of two people and injuries to 11 others. “After the explosion, Levies personnel and people present at the scene immediately rescued the injured, who were t...

Three people were killed on Sunday in two separate shooting incidents in Balochistan’s Panjgur district, police said. Speaking to Dawn.com, Panjgur Deputy Commissioner Zahid Lango said, “Two people were shot dead in the Gomazin area of Panjgur, while another one was killed in a shooting incident in the Zandian Daz area of Panjgur.” The bodies were moved to the Teaching Hospital Panjgur and were consequently handed over to the heirs, he said. The deputy commissioner added that an investigation into the killings was underway and action was being taken to arrest the suspects. The development comes amid a tense security situation prevailing in the province. In Kalat on Friday, unknown armed men shot dead two people, including a woman, in the Killi Mulki area. One person was killed and 10 others injured when a blast struck the convoy of PPP MPA Ali Madad Jattak in Quetta on Wednesday. Last week, at least six people died and seven others were injured in separate incidents in Quetta, Kharan, Surab and Uthal.

Minister of State for Petroleum, Ali Pervez Malik, on Thursday shared key details about the Reko Diq gold and copper mining project during a National Assembly session, revealing timelines, production targets, and financial benefits for Balochistan.

QUETTA - Chief Minister of Balochistan, Mir Sarfraz Bugti, on Saturday praised Pakistan’s armed forces for delivering a decisive and forceful response to Indian aggression, asserting that the counteraction not only demonstrated Pakistan’s military superiority but also compelled the adversary to retreat.

Seven soldiers were martyred in a blast from an improvised explosive device planted by “Indian proxy” terrorists in Balochistan’s Kacchi district, the military’s media wing said on Tuesday. A press release from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said: “On May 6, 2025, terrorists belonging to Indian proxy, so-called ‘Baloch Liberation Army’, targeted security forces’ vehicle with an improvised explosive device in general area Mach.” It said the following seven soldiers were subsequently martyred in the attack: Subedar Umar Farooq, 42, resident of Karachi; Naik Asif Khan, 28, resident of Karak district; Naik Mashkoor Ali, 28, resident of Orakzai district; Sepoy Tariq Nawaz, 26, resident of Lakki Marwat district; Sepoy Wajid Ahmed Faiz, 28, resident of Bagh district; Sepoy Muhammad Asim, 22, resident of Karak district and Sepoy Muhammad Kashif Khan, 28, resident of Kohat district. “Nefarious designs of India and its proxies operating on Pakistani soil will be defeated by the valiant security forces, LEAs...