In one of the deadliest recent attacks, Baloch rebels killed at least 18 Pakistani soldiers in the Kalat district of Balochistan. The rebels seek an independent Balochistan, aiming to break free from Pakistan’s control and resist what they see as the exploitation of their resources by China.
Reports indicate that the clashes were mainly centered in the Mangochar area of Kalat.
Additionally, on Thursday, two Pakistani soldiers, including a Major, lost their lives in a gunfight with militants in North Waziristan’s Mir Ali area, located in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. The fallen soldiers were identified as Major Hamza Israr and Sepoy Muhammad Naeem.
In recent months, Pakistan’s federal government has directed security forces to eliminate rebels affiliated with groups like the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF). However, this has led to widespread human rights concerns, with activists like Dr. Mahrang Baloch condemning the military’s actions against the local population.
A statement from Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Saturday acknowledged the significant loss of soldiers’ lives. The statement also claimed that, in response, Pakistani forces had killed at least 23 militants in two separate incidents over the past 24 hours.
According to ISPR, on the night between January 31 and February 1, militants attempted to set up roadblocks in Mangochar, Kalat district. In the ensuing confrontation, 18 Pakistani soldiers lost their lives. The military has since launched sanitization operations, vowing to bring those responsible to justice.