MAYHEM IN BALOCHISTAN: PAK LOSING ITS NARRATIVE OF NATIONAL COHESION

Pakistan while making statements regarding 'elimination of all forms of terrorism does exactly the opposite when it comes to its eastern border with India.

- MAJ GEN JAGATBIR SINGH

In the latest flare-up of violence in Pakistan, I dozens of militants affiliated with the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) launched a well-coordinated wave of attacks on the night of 25/26 August across Balochistan, targeting security personnel as well as civilians. The date is significant as the Baloch Leader Nawab Akbar Shahbaz Khan Bugti had been killed by Security Forces on 26 August 2006 in his cave.

At least 50 people, including 14 security men, lost their lives as militants went on a rampage across the province, storming Police Stations, blowing up railway tracks, a crucial bridge, and setting fire to almost three dozen vehicles including trucks loaded with coal and fruit.

They attacked police stations, a paramilitary camp in Bela, Levies stations, and blocked key roads, including Coastal Highway. In Khadkocha, a group of militants stormed the local police station and took Levies officials hostage for several hours. They managed to escape after security forces arrived at the OPERATION HEROE scene but not before setting the premises on fire.

In Kalat, militants attacked a Levies station, besides setting alight a toll plaza on the national highway. In Lasbela, the militants stormed a camp of the Frontier Corps after ramming an explosive-laden vehicle into the main gate and entered the premises under the cover of heavy gunfire. Among those killed were 23 people in Musakhail, mostly labourers from Punjab, who were offloaded from trucks and vans and shot dead after an identity check.

The banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attacks. In a statement, the banned outfit said the Majeed Brigade carried out the attacks and two suicide bombers, including a female attacker, targeted the FC camp in Bela. The pictures of the bombers were released on its social media platform.

PAKISTAN'S RESPONSE