Pakistan military says it has killed 92 militants in Balochistan
Pakistan’s military on Saturday said it killed at least 92 militants during large-scale security operations in the southwestern province of Balochistan.
In a statement, the military said the militants were responsible for simultaneous assaults across multiple towns and cities, targeting civilians, security forces and government installations. It confirmed that 15 members of the security services and 18 civilians were also killed in the violence. The army accused India of backing the attackers, an allegation New Delhi has repeatedly denied.
Earlier, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group active in the province, claimed responsibility for the attacks and said dozens of Pakistani soldiers were killed. The competing claims could not be independently verified.
According to officials, militants armed with guns and grenades struck at least 12 locations, including police posts, paramilitary camps, prisons and administrative buildings near the provincial capital, Quetta. In response, security forces launched what they described as extensive 'clearance operations' across affected areas.
Authorities sealed off sensitive zones in Quetta, suspended train services and temporarily shut down mobile phone networks to prevent further attacks. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the military’s actions and vowed to continue operations until militancy is eliminated.
Balochistan has long been plagued by an insurgency rooted in grievances over political marginalisation, alleged human rights abuses and the exploitation of the province’s vast natural resources. Despite covering nearly 44 percent of Pakistan’s landmass, the resource-rich province remains the country’s least developed and continues to face chronic instability.
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